Matt went down to pay for the dolphin encounter and I left to take the rental car back. Just as I was getting on to Waikola Road, I saw three young men with a sign that said "Kona". Since our arrival in Hawaii, we had seen quite a few people hitching rides.

Although it's illegal to hitchhike in Hawaii, it seemed pretty common place. We had seen people doing it nearly every day. On the Big Island of Hawaii, there didn't seem to be very many state troopers patrolling the highways.

I blew right past them and drove about 1/2 mile before I decided to turn around and go back. 

They seemed harmless so I offered them a ride to the airport. I don't normally pick up hitchhikers, but I figured it wasn't my car and if they stole it I wouldn't really be out anything. All three of them were from the US. I should have written down more about them. One of them had an aunt in northern Virginia, one of them used to be in the military, and one of them enjoyed traveling around to various music festivals.

We got out of the car at the Enterprise return and said our goodbyes. In my entire life time, I have only picked up hitchhikers ONCE and I probably will never do it again because I've seen too many scary movies about it.

I'd drive then car 678 miles over the last three days. The average MPG was over 33 - not bad! I hoped on a shuttle and went over to the airport. I figured it would be easy to find me there.

It wasn't long before my family showed up. My dad got out of the car so I could drive. Next stop:  Sunday Island Breeze Luau!