Dogs in Hawaii - Always Cheerful?

Tom and I disappeared for a week from Daisy's life, leaving her in the capable care of her cousin and aunt. How did it go? Well, more on that later.

For now, we'll concentrate on the dogs we met while on our fabulous vacation in, yes, Hawaii! We visited the Big Island. While we did spend most of our time swimming and snorkeling, we also ventured out on the land a bit to see what the dogs were up to. First, we discovered that most dogs do not go out during the daytime on weekdays at all. Are they sleeping off a wild weekend? Staying cool? It's hard to say.

But, come Friday afternoon, they emerge. The first pup we saw was 20 yards out from the shore, swimming with his human companion in a prime snorkeling spot at Honaunau Bay, called Two Steps for short. This seemed to be a regular activity for the two. (Tip for snorkelers: Leave the dolphins be. They need their sleep time during the day.)

We also spotted a couple of Basset hounds (see above) who had stopped for shaved ice one evening in Kailua-Kona Town. And this individual to the right was part of a greeting committee for kayaks at the Kealakekua Bay. He had just finished his job and was off to a nearby party.

Is it possible to generalize about Hawaiian dogs? Probably not. But they did all seem awfully mellow and good-humored, even when they had been charged with guarding someone or something. It's probably the warm air and all that salt spray that makes for a positive outlook and good temperament.