We receive notice that the majority of our shore excursion for today has been cancelled due to the government shutdown. What was left had no appeal so we cancel the excursion and will just go ashore on our own.
Kona is a tender port where we will use the lifeboats for tendering. As lifeboats, the capacity of each is 150. As tenders they load a maximum of 85 passengers, and believe me they are quite full. Hopefully the boats never need to be used at full capacity. There is a several foot swell, which in itself will not rock the Koningsdam, but the lifeboats are a different story. The boats move up and down about two feet relative to the boarding platform on the ship and the dock at shore. The crew works very hard to help passengers board and disembark safely. Many passengers are apprehensive, but to the best of my knowledge there are no mishaps.
Once ashore we consult a port map, Waze, and the local information booth. We settle on "Kona Brewery" as our destination. Not because I am a beer drinker, but my oldest daughter and her husband would definitely head there if they were here, so we will do it for them.
Some of the steps are steep and the handrails so hot from the sun that you can't touch them. After having to backtrack because one road was totally blocked even to pedestrian traffic we make it. Probably amongst the first half dozen ship passengers to arrive.
Lynn tries several of the beers, one she found much to her liking. I stuck to two ice cold diet coke's.
We stayed for an hour or so, enjoyed a very lite lunch and were entertained by several mongoose playing near the edge of the patio. I may have slipped a coaster in Lynn's purse for my son in law Steve. By the time we leave nearly every table is full, mostly with people I recognize from the ship.
This was probably the hottest day we have had. By the time we are back to the ship all our clothing is only fit for the laundry, and a shower is definitely in order.
It has been four days since we have been to the dining room, so we definitely make it tonight. The veal meatballs were good. For some unexplainable reason the diningroom is very noisy tonight. Possibly the end result of many passengers going to the Kona Brewery. Or maybe more guest have caught on to the happy hour at 3 of the bars between 4 and 6.
The headliners have changed. Tonight's performance by Ryan Ahern was excellent. A concert piano player with a very energetic varied program.
Tomorrow we will be in Nawiliwili, Kauai. Our last Hawaiian port.
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