I’ve been back in Texas just 24 hours, and I already miss Hawai’i!  The beauty and culture of Hawai’i are hard to describe.  It was really the vacation of a lifetime.  Here are 12 things that I love about my trip to the Big Island of Hawai’i.

1. Malasadas – Think filled donut meets Hawaiian sweet bread.  For the best on the big island try Baker Tom’s – a hole in the wall stop about 4 miles north of Hilo.
2. The Falls – All of the waterfalls were beautiful, but I think my favorite were at The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls, our beautiful lodging in Hilo.
3. Wiapi’o Valley – Called the Valley of the Kings, it is probably one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
4. New land created by the volcano – It’s a 1/2 mile hike in  the dark across a rough lava field, but worth it to see the earth’s newest land.
5. Kona Coffee – Ummm… Coffee.  Brought back 3 lbs of the best – Greenwell Farms.
6. Snorkeling – I swam within feet of a sea turtle!  Don’t miss the snorkeling at Kahalu’u – right next to where we stayed at the Outrigger Keauhou.
7. Beaches – A trip to Hawai’i would be incomplete without a trip to one of the many beautiful beaches.  My favorite light sand – Mauna Kea.  My favorite dark sand – Punalu’u.
8. POG Juice – Passionfruit-Orange-Guava – a luscious combination!
9. Flora & Fauna – The rainforest produces the most beautiful flowers!  I think Krystal would wear a plumeria lei everyday if we had a tree in our yard.
10. Hawaiian Shaved Ice – Ice and sugar syrup as big as my head.  Strangely enough, the best is called Scandinavian Shave Ice.
11. Tropical Dreams Ice Cream – Shaved ice is nice, but Tropical Dreams is better.
12. Coqui frogs – Not just the frogs, which have a beautiful sing-song call, but the beautiful weather that lets you keep your windows open all night to hear their call.