This post should have been the first one, but I just now was able to get these awesome videos uploaded.

On taxi to run up, the controller gave us our choice of what runway to use. We picked runway 17 because we were closer to that end of the field. During run up, a UPS 767 cargo flight departed just ahead of us. This was cool because my dad retired from UPS as a cargo pilot and it was an ironic father-son experience to see something represent the last of his flying career appear as I am just getting mine off of the ground.

From: KOA, PHKO, Runway 17 Opted for left downwind. There was a Blue Hawaiian helicopter departing parallel to the right.

Precious Cargo: My wife, who said swore she would never fly with me in a small plane came. She also shot all of the awesome videos that we uploaded to YouTube, and all of the still photos. She juggled 3 cameras while coping with her white knuckle fear of flying. So I really have to hand it to her.

My dad who is a retired UPS cargo pilot also rode along.

We flew a shortcut over the south point of Kona – The Southernmost Point in the United States, and then turned north towards Hilo.