The Orchard

While we were in Hilo we connected with some local fruit farmers. After getting to know them a bit more they offered us their guest house, so we decided to kick it out here with them! They are awesome people, a couple around our parents age with 2 young kids, and a beautiful piece of land on the mountain 25 minutes north of Hilo. We’ve gotten to know them quite well, and they love sharing all their knowledge about the island life with us. Our cabin is on the north section of the property, and we cook for ourselves, keep the cabin clean and sleep in bunk beds!! There is even a cat that likes to hang out in our cabin, named Debbie. Another little quirk of the island we discovered… lizards run free indoors and outdoors. We have a few house geckos roaming around 🙂

The couple hosting us is very generous! They often go into town, so they offer to take us to see other parts of the island. While they went to Costco on the 11th we were able to visit a beautiful cove in Kona and snorkel with the ocean life! There were schools of fish, coral, eels, and Mike even swam with a turtle! In the distance there were dolphins jumping out of the water… it was a perfect day. We decided snorkelling is one of our favourite water activities.

One of their recent projects was a lychee harvest. They welcomed us to help out and learn the process, which we found super fun! Lychee is a small fruit that looks somewhat like a strawberry. We snipped them off of the tree by hand, using long tools with cutters on the end to reach the high branches. Then we would sort the fruit into containers for an order. Other fruits they harvest here are rombutan and mangosteen, which we had never even heard of before! We got to try each one and they are all different from what we’re used to, but sweet and good!