I love the nightlife, I like to boogie....

On Friday, we had no plans. There was an easy day ahead: pancakes and bacon for breakfast, a walk up to the falls, maybe some time in town to get a pedicure, hang out by the water, a grocery run.

Then Julie get's a text from her friend, Janno, to meet up at 4 at Kim's Bar to do some New Years Eve planning. Sounds awesome!

So first things first: let's go check out Akaka Falls. After all, it's only a few miles up the road and is a famous tourist spot. Plus it's supposed to be incredibly beautiful. So, once again, we pile into this small truck and head up the road. You can drive into the parking lot, but then it costs you $5 to park, so we parked outside the gate. It also costs $1 to hike the trail down to see it, unless you live here. So Candance gave them a dollar for me and we began the steps down to the falls.

The walk is paved and it is simply beautiful!! The vegetation is huge and you cross over several streams that are fed by the same water that creates the falls. If you walk around the loop counter clockwise, you go to Kahuna Falls first, then down to Akaka Falls. I recommend this way because otherwise you have to climb all of those stairs back!

On the way there, we stopped at what Julie calls the Avatar Tree. It is a huge banyon tree that you can walk down into if you are very careful. I got far enough down to get in a small crook and take some pictures. I need to move here so I can build a tree house in one of these trees. It would be soooo coool!

The falls were simply breath-taking and there were not many people there so it wasn't crowded.  We paused to take some pictures and to feel the energy. I was amazed at the amount of power this waterfall produced. I wanted to just soak it all up!

Candance thought that I would also enjoy another powerful place down the road where the river/creek meets the ocean. She took me down to KoleKole Beach park. This looks like a neat place to camp. There were a few people there, but mostly there were some surfers out in the ocean surfing the break into the river. Of course, they did not get that close because they would be seriously injured, but it was amazing to watch them in water that was so powerful. The tide was coming in and tonight was to be a full moon so the tides were at optimum power. We stayed for a few minutes to watch the surfers--long enough to see one make it back in, and then decided that we needed showers and such to head into town. We had plans to meet some friends at 4 and I wanted a pedicure before we went.

Now, as far as anything I know about Hawaii, I know from other people who have been here and things that I read or see on TV. Some places don't like tourists--or anyone who does not live here or is white. There is no doubt that with my blonde hair, light skin and southern accent, I am considered a "haole," a derogatory term coined for foreigners. As a side note, haole means "no breath" because a common polynesian greeting is touching foreheads and noses and you breathe the same breath. White people like to shake hands. The idea of coming that close to someone's face often makes us a little nervous. Haole's were also known as foreigners who came to Hawaii to exploit the resources and take over the government--as in no appreciation for beautiful and connections with nature--only greed.

Our plans were to meet up at 4 at Kim's bar, a locals bar on the airport side of Hilo. Now anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to hug, so as we entered this bar and got a few looks from the locals, we were lucky to be greeted by friends, all of whom got up out of their seats to greet us with hugs and kisses. I love this island.

Anyway, Kim's is is the sort of local bar that looks like it was built sometime in 1975 and hasn't really changed. Nothing is on tap and I kind of set the waitress off her game when I asked what kind of beer they had. "Do you want me to read you a list?" I was lost--but then she told me they had a Newcastle and I went with it. Most were drinking Heinekens and I just couldn't handle that. It's tough to be a southern beer snob in a local bar in Hilo. But I tipped her for every $4 beer I drank and I think she was ok after that.

Kim's is also a Karaoke bar and to hear several local construction workers sing "Shake you Down" by Aaron Neville is a hoot! I was laughing so hard my cheeks hurt. Until it was my time to sing.

Unfortunately, I sing quite well with a radio (in my mind) but not so well solo. I did a very horrid version of Love Shack that I hammed up so that it was more funny than anything else and then luckily, Julie took the lead on Landslide and my back up vocals rounded it out. I had had too much beer, but I also had a very good time.

We ended our evening out at the iconic restaurant Ken's Pancake House--which is the one restaurant I seem to come back to in Hilo. It's your average diner/pancake house open all night. The food is pretty good--breakfast is the best and they are famous for their "Sumo" which, depending on what part of the menu you are reading, is a HUGE amount of food. From what I understand, if you can eat it all, it's free--but don't quote me on that. My advise is to drink a great deal at Kim's, sing your head off, then go eat at Ken's. It like being in college again.

Quote of the day comes from Julie as we are standing outside Kim's bar: "I did not come here to watch you die!"