After a restful night’s sleep I awoke to the sounds of my Blackberry both buzzing from my preset alarm and incoming e-mails. After all, we are still working. With two feet planted soundly on the ground I glanced over my itinerary and realized a bathing suit was today’s only main article of clothing needed, how easy can that be right. No makeup, no hair products…just shower and go.

At 6 a.m. I shuffled downstairs to Kimo Bean, located on the Hilton Waikoloa’s main level to meet my team. Yup, we all looked a little sleepy. Nothing some home grown, fresh brewing Kona coffee couldn’t fix. First stop breakfast on the lanai at Dolphin Quest. As we grabbed coffee and croissants—watching the sun rise over Hawaii—we began to hear the playful sounds of dolphins greeting us from their paralleling blue lagoon. Our first adventure on the Big Island was to swim with dolphins. No need for coffee to kick us into high gear, the idea alone led us to our feet.

Suited up and divided into two teams we met our marine mammal experts eager to have us interact with one of the oceans most delicate, amazing and intelligent creators. Waist high in water we were able to assist the trainers in feeding, commanding and playing with the dolphins. An experience I have to say is unlike anything I have ever done in my life.

After an amazing hour with the dolphins, we were off to the black sandy shorelines of Kona to catch a ride on the Glass Bottom boat tour. Drifting between the shoreline and the oceans sandbar, we peered into the center of the boat catching glimpse of indigenous fishes, somber sea turtles and colorful coral reef dubbed Hawaii’s “tropical rain forests of the sea.”

As we played bumper boats with our private charter awaiting us offshore, we efficiently jumped from one boat to another without any hiccups. Kudos to us! (Although if really wasn’t as hard as it sounds.) As we made our way to the front of the vessel, we were introduced to the captain and his second in command. Within moments the wind was in our hair and we were cuddling the coastline off the black sandy beaches known to Kona for an afternoon of snorkeling.

After endless afternoon of fun in the sun it was back aboard the boat for lunch and a leisurely sail home. Once upon shore we headed back to the resort for an hour of pampering at the Kohala Spa before breaking for a little r-and-r before dinner.

As the sun set and the tiki torches lit the way, we loaded into our shuttle bus for an evening at Sansei restaurant, located in the Queens’ Marketplace. There we enjoy a pre-fix tasting of delish soup, sushi rolls, and meat—traditional island cuisine. For desert we found ourselves at Macaroni Grill. There oh-so-yummy tiramisu, chocolate and lemon cakes paired well with the evening’s dessert drinks. After eating so much good food everyone became sleepy and rightfully so, for many we were nearing the wee hours of the morning. The only thing on everyone’s mind was sleep.

Stay tuned for day three tomorrow.

Written by Christine Whitton

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