Visiting Hilo

On Tuesday we decided that we would get started with work early on Wednesday and then find a way into Hilo. Dj and I spent the whole week working together on the mural, so it's been easy to coordinate our schedules. We finished our work trade, emptied a back pack, and aimed for Hilo's farmers market. We walked down the road a little, stuck out our thumbs and nearly right away had a ride. While hitchhiking on the mainland is considered muy dangerous, on Hawaii its a standard form of travel. As most of the roads don't go very fast, it is totally common to get offered rides in the back of a pick up. I've decided this is a way better way to travel the island in a car. Its like your own private little tour bus.

On the way in we hit Cafe 100, home of the infamous Loco Moco. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this dish, its a local favorite- a burger, topped with an egg, on a bed of white rice, smothered in gravy. Horrifying right? We got a teriyaki version...

After that we walked a few miles into the downtown area, wandered the shops, people watched, and enjoyed our first "real" shave ice. Burried deep inside powdery ice was a little pile of sweet adzuki beans, I went for lilicoi, vanilla, and coconut. The lilicoi was great, the vanilla and coconut were way too sweet.

We wandered some more, then decided to catch the bus back to Pahoa.

By the end of the day we had walked more miles than we had expected to, but came home to a group of the kids here singing and playing guitar.