Hawaii 2012
Part 3
The next morning we flew to the Big Island and landed in Hilo where we were to stay.
We had a car here too and drove up the coast after picking the car up at the airport.
We stopped at Akaka Fall State Park and hiked into the wet and humid park on cement paths.
Very lush landscape.
The smaller falls.
The big falls.
Us.
The vegetation.
Up the long road north to WaipiĠo Valley.
Some folks live down there.
Many areas with large stands of these trees.
The road went along the coast and had many lookouts spots.
Back in Hilo we saw many of these umbrella shaped trees.
They really are magnificent. So were the gas prices.
We checked into the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and this is the view off our balcony.
The sky changed constantly. Looks like rain is coming. It did rain later as we sat having dinner in town.
Big boats, little boats.
Off the next morning to the other side of the island to visit Kaului-Kona.
Fog had caused a big accident on the Saddle Road so we had to take the long way.
The fog finally burned off. We went through the large town of Waimea on Route 19.
When we got closer to the coast there was nothing but fields of black lava rock.
Many painted-rock signs could be seen.
They went on for miles and miles.
Huge expanses of cooled lava. Only a bit of vegitation.
In Kailui-Kona we visited the HuliheĠe Palace, a vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.
The palace had some beautiful Kona-wood furniture, floors and molding.
The view from the lanai was very nice.
Very simple design.
Outriggers for rent at one of the hotels on the bay.
Reproduction of old Hawaiian village.
And of course, banyan trees and ABC stores.
Tattoos are big in Hawaii so we saw dozens of shops like this.
Mokuaikaua
Church, HawaiiĠs earliest Christian Church built in 1820.
Stopped at Kona JoeĠs to see beans on the vine (trellised).
Bought very expensive Kona Coffee.
Back in town to visit a quilt shop so I had some time to kill.
Walkways, walls, steps, and even whole buildings were built of lava.
Many more homes on stilts.
The next morning we went to see the volcanoes. To the south and very uphill to get there.
The city of Volcano and the National Park.
Steaming holes in many places. Not too nice a smell.
The message was clear.
But pretty flowers grew there anyway.
Brimstone.
The main caldron is active once more so part of the Crater Ring Road was closed to traffic.
The Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku). Wet and dark but both ends were open.
A non-active caldron, Lua Manu.
Another one. They were everywhere along the Chain of Craters Road that took us to the sea.
Vast expanses of old lava flow.
From one of the lookout stops. The darker lava is newer.
It cooled quickly I guess. The flow lines could be seen in many places.
Some of the PuĠu Loa petroglyphs. It was a long walk (1.4 mi) over rough lava to see these.
At the end of the road we found the sea and the cliffs formed when the hot lava hit the water.
The sign said to keep back.
Water carved arch.
We stopped at an orchid farm on the way back to Hilo.
I do like orchids.
There were dozens and dozens of different varieties.
That evening we got ready to go home but visited the gardens around the hotel.
This island was part of the scenery.
We got there as the sun worshipers were finishing their sunset ceremony.
Some had arrived in outriggers.
Hawaiian scouts were exercising there too.
Some of the trees were labeled to show the water heights during storms.
Nearby was a large Japanese Garden.
And one last flower.