Miss Parrot Learns to Relax in Good Company

After a very dubious start here in Hawai'i, I'm pleased to report things have improved dramatically. At Patey's Hostel I had the good fortune to meet Anitra, it seems our paths crossed at the perfect moment. Anitra had spent the week at a water conservation conference (her line of work back home in Washington State) and was ready to explore the island. Unfortunately (but luckily for me) her plans were scuppered when she lost her driving license making it impossible to hire a car. I told her about my experiences and how I didn't have any plans, but would love some company. So on Tuesday morning we hired a rental car (Chevy Cobalt FYI Harry) and hit the road!

This is what the American's call a compact.

Anitra had found this site for what looked like a delightful guesthouse. Notice I use the past tense.
Anitra had spoken on several occasions to the owner, she understood she would be the only guest (until plans changed), but was looking forward to somewhere to unwind. It wasn't really the place for that though as fate would have it.
The Kaimana Guesthouse is on an old Lava Field, dating back to the 1920's. There is a lot of properties around, but still plenty of empty Lot's for sale. Although I'm not sure for how long, as apparently when Donald Trump was asked a good place to invest in property, his answer South Kona. The price of the Lot's has increased from around $7,000 to $47,000 in the last three years. It actually reminds me of photo's I've seen of Greenland. Painted houses, inhospitable land pounded by the ocean.
Anitra and I both agree it would be an odd place to live or even own a holiday home, the landscape is so harsh and there isn't much else to do, apart from look at the ocean, it's a hard place to imagine calling home.

Lava Field Homes

It was pretty cool be the only guests and have the place to ourselves. The owner, Solomon had told Anitra where to find the keys.
Our "dorm" was a mezzanine area, with three beds, downstairs there was a kitchen, and open plan living area. The guesthouse is about 100ft from the ocean, but the lava field is craggy and drops off into the ocean so is difficult to access.
It was not until the evening that things went a little off. I was using the phone when a giant cockroach jumped onto the kitchen counter right next to the phone.
We spotted a second on the counter top and started to panic. We discussed our options. We hoped the cockroaches couldn't make it up the stairs.

Attack of the Coakroaches!

My theory involved sleeping with the light on, as cockroaches don't like light. Okay I have no idea where this came from, I mean the light was on in the kitchen. But Anitra was happy to believe my "theory". We started the night with our beds pushed into the corners of the room. As we heard noises in the rafters we slowly edged our beds into the centre of the room.

Our "dorm"

Each time there was the slightest noise, we would both lift ourselves up with alarmed, "What was that?"
You'll be pleased to hear we made it through the night. We both felt a bit silly in the morning, but put it down to being tired. We hit the road again, we wanted to get to Holo Holo In in Volcano Village, which is close to the entrance to Volcano National Park.