Hilo is on the windward side of the Big Island (aka Island of Hawaii). This means, as the name implies, that it's on the side of the island that most often faces the wind. The calm but steady trade winds carry a consistent stream of moisture that supports the lush foliage. And by lush, I mean that our host casually planted some papaya seeds six months ago, and the tree was already as tall as I was. The perfect volcanic soil and steady coastal rain support the amazing landscape that defines the city.
And speaking of our host, let me introduce you to Carol Galper!
Dr. Galper was one of my favorite medical school professors and has had a tremendous impact on my career. She was the person that orchestrated my first trip to the Hopi reservation and exposed me to dozens of other great learning opportunities throughout Tucson and the state. And who knows, as I keep falling more in love with Hilo, she may also be responsible for me eventually working at a health center here!
She recently retired from the U of A and bought a house on the Big Island, where she'd been vacationing for years. And I'm here to say that it's as nice as it sounds.
We landed in Hilo late in the afternoon, and had a really nice dinner with Carol and her husband at Pineapples, a local bistro. We stayed up late talking about how amazing the island is, and Carol gave us all kinds of tips on what to do while we're here. Of course, all she really needed to say was go outside, pick a direction, and walk until you see something amazing. We're going to do just fine here.
