A Conference in Hawaii? Day 1 “Out of the Rain and Into the Sauna” December 4, 2019

We escaped Los Angeles on what started out as a very rainy morning. I don’t know what happened later in the day because we were aboard an American Airlines flight to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. I will be attending a medical conference in order to keep up to date with the latest medical information. I know what you are thinking, “Robert is going on a vacation at taxpayer’s expense”. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am very interested in the topics to be discussed this week and that is why I decided to attend. This conference is about…… wait I need to check. I know it is some sort of medical topic, so let’s leave it at that. I will find out tomorrow.

I would like to tell you that the flight to Kona was delightful but unfortunately it wasn’t. We had a lot of turbulence. I kept on grabbing Patrice’s hand because I was so scared. Sorry, I am a big flying baby and that is the painful truth. The only thing worse than the turbulence were the two movies I watched. I saw two films I had never heard of (that should have been a clue). One was called “Bottom of the 9th”. I won’t even bother to discuss it. The other had Alec Baldwin, Selma Hayek and a bunch of other very good actors. It was a comedy titled “Broke Parents” and it was AWFUL.

Upon arrival to Kona it was clear we were not at LAX. The airport is tiny and signage very poor. Luckily staff were great. I found a security guard who was very helpful in directing us to baggage claim and the rental car shuttles. Security guard friendly and helpful? Yes, we were not at LAX. The weather was a major change from LA. It wasn’t raining or cold but it was very humid and hot.

It was a 25 minute drive from the airport to our hotel. We are staying at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (69-275 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Beach, HI 96738). The staff members are very friendly and accommodating but the wait to check in was awful. A sweet young lady offered us an Aloha greeting and placed a puka shell necklace around each of our necks. It was a kind gesture but I would have appreciated her using her time to check people into the hotel instead.

After resting up we headed out for dinner. We ate at Napua at Mauna Lani Beach club (68-1292 S Kaniku Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738). The restaurant was recommended by one of Patrice’s friends who recently relocated from Redondo Beach to the Big Island of Hawaii. We had a wonderful time at the restaurant. Service was excellent . The surroundings were beautiful (lush vegetation with a calm ocean bay just footsteps from our table) and the food was superb.

Patrice here. “We shared the calamari appetizer”? Robert and I each had one piece then I looked up as Robert was finished the last serving. That is his idea of sharing.

Patrice had BBQ ribs as you can see above. I love this woman but doesn’t she realize this is Hawaii, not Memphis in May? If you don’t know about Memphis in May I feel bad for you but please click the category named Memphis on the right side of this blog and you will get your full of the MIM celebration.

I had the Caesar Salad with Shrimp shown above. It was spectacular. Patrice loves shrimp and I knew I had to offer her one. Luckily she declined. Enough about food. I need to get ready for tomorrow’s conference. I have to find out where and when the conference will be. I probably should also look to see what it is about.

Aloha