Aloha....

Aloha.... Today is our last day.

Plumeria, also known as frangipani, is a tropical plant with fragrant flowers that are commonly used in Hawaiian leis. They are popular for their beautiful blooms, which can be white, cream, yellow, pink, lilac, or red. Plumerias are native to warm, tropical regions but can also be grown in containers and brought indoors during colder months. 

In Hawaiian culture, the plumeria flower, symbolizes love, beauty, and grace. It's a widely recognized symbol of Aloha, the Hawaiian spirit of love, kindness, and respect. Plumeria flowers are often used in leis and represent a warm welcome or gesture of affection.

Like their relatives in the dogbane family, plumerias exude a toxic, thick, milky latex from a cut flower, leaf, or stem. While the substance is so bitter that accidental poisoning is unlikely, it can irritate sensitive skin.

Many varieties of plumeria have an intoxicating scent, especially at night. Drawn in by the enticing fragrance, sphinx moths, their natural pollinators, are frequent nighttime visitors. During the day, plumeria attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and a fast-growing fan base of enthusiasts.

The five petals of a plumeria are traditionally said to symbolize love, faith, charity, hope, and devotion. These symbolic meanings are often associated with the plumeria's role as Hawaii's "flower of welcome" and its association with the spirit of Aloha.

The flower can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status—over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.

In various cultures, Plumeria flowers are emblems of love and immortality, often adorning temples and sacred spaces. They're a paradox, symbolizing both life's beginnings and its inevitable end, as seen in their use in both weddings and cemeteries across Asia.

We always enjoyed this view when we were having breakfast.

I definitely will miss photographing the beautiful water lilies every morning.

I'm still amazed at the number of wild goats grazing along the roads.

These goats make the resort their home.

The bougainvillea are beautiful to look at but bougainvillea is mildly toxic to humans and pets, causing irritation and vomiting if ingested. Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation and rashes. Invasive: Bougainvillea can become invasive in some regions due to its rapid growth.

The pros are that bougainvillea are fast-growing, are extremely attractive, and come in several varieties of sizes and colors. The cons are they have a limited growing range unless you plan to raise the plant in a container, and they have wickedly sharp thorns.

Bougainvillea plants, with proper care, can live for several decades. However, reaching full size can vary significantly: Typically, Bougainvillea can take anywhere from 1 to 5 years to reach maturity, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Bougainvillea is generally considered non-toxic to dogs. While it can cause some mild gastrointestinal upset or skin irritation in some dogs, it is not considered a highly toxic plant. Ingestion of larger amounts of bougainvillea can lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea in dogs. The thorns on bougainvillea can cause physical injuries, so it's important to keep your dog away from them.

The coastline north of the airport in Kona.

Next time, I will try these. I didn't want to buy any on our last day as I am not allowed to take most fresh fruits and vegetables off the island of Hawaii because of restrictions imposed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the spread of invasive plant pests and diseases. These restrictions are in place to protect the agricultural industry and environment of the U.S. mainland. Just one piece of fruit or a single plant that is carrying an invasive pest or disease could lead to millions of dollars in damage to agriculture and the environment, expensive eradication efforts, lost trade revenue, and higher food prices.

Shipping or mailing most fresh fruits and vegetables from Hawaii directly or through Alaska or Guam to the continental United States is prohibited due to the risk of introducing certain invasive plant pests and diseases. However, there are a few exceptions. Fresh pineapple and coconut are permitted after inspection.

Fresh papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan,

starfruit, and sweet potato are permitted, but must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and packed

in boxes that are properly marked and stamped. Shipping or mailing processed fruits and vegetables

is permissible. Processing methods include cooking, drying, or freezing. If freezing, all fruits must be frozen solid at the time of inspection. Frozen mango must be without seeds.

Items From Hawaii Allowed Entry into the U.S.

Mainland after Inspection:

• Beach Sand

• Coconuts

• Commercially canned foods

• Dried seeds and decorative arrangements

• Fresh flowers, leis, and foliage (except any citrus or

citrus-related flowers, leaves, or other plant parts,

as well jade vine or Mauna Loa)

• Hinahina (Spanish moss)

• Irish or white potatoes

• Fresh pineapple

• Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya,

banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee,

mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet

potato*

• Plants and cuttings**

• Rocks and stones

• Seashells, not land snail shells

• Seed leis and seed jewelry

• Wood (including drift wood and sticks) and wood

roses (dried)

* Note: These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved

facility and packed in boxes that are properly marked and

stamped.

** Note: For certifying rooted plant material, contact the

State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Items From Hawaii Not Allowed Entry into the U.S.

Mainland:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables, except for those listed

above as permitted

• Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries

and sea grapes

• Cactus plants or cactus plant parts

• Cotton and cotton bolls

• Fresh flowers of jade vine and Mauna Loa

• Kikania and fresh pandanus

• Live insects and snails

• Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods

• Soil or any plants in soil

• Sugarcane

• Swamp cabbage (unchoy)

• Sweet potato (raw)

• Mock orange

Another cruise ship, the Silversea, anchored off the old town section of Kona.

The waves splashed over the seawall when I was taking the picture.

Michael had mango sorbet

I had ube ice cream. Ube is pronouned "oo-bay". The "u" is pronounced as in "blue", the "b" is a regular "b" sound, and the e is pronounced as in "day". What is the flavor of ube ice cream? The result is creamy, sweet, nutty, and beautiful to behold! The purple hue comes courtesy of ingredients like grape extract and beet juice. From a flavor perspective, it's been likened to a cross between vanilla and pistachio, with a hint of coconut. That is exactly how it takes. Yummy! I had it few times while we were here.

Dioscorea alata is a species of yam commonly referred to as purple yam, ube, violet yam, or water yam. This tuberous root vegetable originates from Southeast Asia and is often confused with taro root. An indigenous staple of the Philippines, it's now cultivated and enjoyed worldwide.

Ube contains beneficial nutrients and fiber, making the ice cream s somewhat healthier option.

The gate at the Hulihe'e Palace.