monsterkitty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
I think your timing on the Big Island may have had something to do with the lack of the Aloha feeling.
Disclaimer, I have done two full Ironman races and around 20 half Ironman races. I'm saying this as an insight to the statements I'm about to make.
Those who live on the Big Island are not fond of the race. My sister and I were on the Big Island, staying in Waikoloa, two years ago during the week of the race. It was very eye-opening for me and I was incredibly embarrassed by the behaviors of those racing and those who were there to support an athlete. Athletes were riding facing traffic on the Queen K, GU packets and water bottles littered the ground, and athletes acting like they owned the place.
An example: Hawi is my favorite town in the world. There is a coffee shop there, Kahala Coffee Mill, that we always stop at for lunch, ice cream, baked goods, etc. My sister and I stopped there in the morning to grab some banana bread and coffee on our way to a hike, but there was no place to sit and we couldn't even get in. Several hours later, the same people were sitting at the same tables, with their computers. These same people had their race bikes propped up anywhere they could. We walked in to get a sandwich and the poor employees were overwhelmed by the actions and behaviors of those there. So we walked across the street and had fantastic BBQ at Bamboo.
DH now teaches with a science teacher who lived in Kona for 25 years. She said that those who live there know they need to stock up in the grocery stores on anything the athletes will buy. This will not just be protein bars, and Gatorade, but eggs, milk, cheeses, chocolate, yogurt, etc. because there will be none of that after the athletes hit the area. Some athletes get there a month before the race to train. And these are just age groupers like me, not the pros!
I was so embarrassed by the behaviors of my fellow triathletes that I stopped wearing my Ironman Boulder hat and any IM shirts I had with me.
So the lack of Aloha we felt was directly correlated to the race. We are convinced. And my DH's co-worker confirmed our feelings. She said the worst time to travel to the Big Island is around the race.
I think you and Jake need a redo on your Big Island honeymoon. Fly into Hilo, stay at Volcano House for a few nights, and then drive to the Kona side for a week. Fly out of Kona. Just don't do it after mid-September.
Disclaimer, I have done two full Ironman races and around 20 half Ironman races. I'm saying this as an insight to the statements I'm about to make.
Those who live on the Big Island are not fond of the race. My sister and I were on the Big Island, staying in Waikoloa, two years ago during the week of the race. It was very eye-opening for me and I was incredibly embarrassed by the behaviors of those racing and those who were there to support an athlete. Athletes were riding facing traffic on the Queen K, GU packets and water bottles littered the ground, and athletes acting like they owned the place.
An example: Hawi is my favorite town in the world. There is a coffee shop there, Kahala Coffee Mill, that we always stop at for lunch, ice cream, baked goods, etc. My sister and I stopped there in the morning to grab some banana bread and coffee on our way to a hike, but there was no place to sit and we couldn't even get in. Several hours later, the same people were sitting at the same tables, with their computers. These same people had their race bikes propped up anywhere they could. We walked in to get a sandwich and the poor employees were overwhelmed by the actions and behaviors of those there. So we walked across the street and had fantastic BBQ at Bamboo.
DH now teaches with a science teacher who lived in Kona for 25 years. She said that those who live there know they need to stock up in the grocery stores on anything the athletes will buy. This will not just be protein bars, and Gatorade, but eggs, milk, cheeses, chocolate, yogurt, etc. because there will be none of that after the athletes hit the area. Some athletes get there a month before the race to train. And these are just age groupers like me, not the pros!
I was so embarrassed by the behaviors of my fellow triathletes that I stopped wearing my Ironman Boulder hat and any IM shirts I had with me.
So the lack of Aloha we felt was directly correlated to the race. We are convinced. And my DH's co-worker confirmed our feelings. She said the worst time to travel to the Big Island is around the race.
I think you and Jake need a redo on your Big Island honeymoon. Fly into Hilo, stay at Volcano House for a few nights, and then drive to the Kona side for a week. Fly out of Kona. Just don't do it after mid-September.
. I couldn’t bear to part with it- it’s actually still sitting in a vase in our apartment to this day!
I loved all of the ABC stores too haha, they had so many goodies there! I actually saw lots of fun candles at the ABC stores too- but I had literally no more space in my suitcase to squeeze anything else!
4 months in... so far, so good 
I’m at that store about once a week! I have a strong olfactory memory and nothing brightens my mood more than my favorite scents!
