Thursday started very early. We left the villa by 4:45 to be at the airport by 5:50. We boarded an inter-island flight to the big island for another full day tour.
When we arrived our Discover Hawaii tour guide, Steve, introduced himself and we found out that he was originally from the Philadelphia area, and was born in Atlantic City. We had only 12 people on the tour and we made up 7 of the 12 so it was almost a private tour.
First stop was on Banyon Drive. Banyon trees drop their roots from above and they harden when they hit the ground so they continue to widen as the roots drop unless they are trimmed back.
Banyon Tree along Banyon drive
Mom holding the root of a Banyon tree that is dropping.
After Banyon drive we went to a Japanese garden where we spotted a rainbow. We thought that was a good sign for our day. It was a quick visit but we got a few pictures.
Japanese Garden
Kasey doing her best “top of the world” impression in the garden.
Cody – as tall as the palm trees
We learned the “hang loose” sign, which has many meanings, but it’s a sort of greeting, thanks for letting be pull out into traffic, have a good day, etc… Here are Mom Mom and Conrad Sr practicing.
Giving the Hangloose sign which has many meanings, e
Dad practicing Hang Loose
Next stop was a black sand beach. This was our best chance to see the green sea turtles. First we took some pictures with the sand –
Conrad holding some of the black sand
Black Sand
Also on the Black Sand beach we saw a large green sea turtle out on a set of rocks but just as we tried to get some pictures, he got washed off by a big wave. Steph and Conrad pushed on across the rocks and came across a pool which had lots of sea turtles, so we were able to get some good pictures.
Green Sea Turtle
Green Sea Turtle
After the black sand beach we headed to Rainbow falls which actually did have a rainbow.
Rainbow Falls
We then headed over to the University of Hawaii planetarium for lunch. They had a Asian buffet which was good and inexpensive.
Next stop we headed to Volcano National Park for the rest of our day. Here we are at the entrance.
We stopped at the visitors center where we got a great view of a very large crater with steam coming from a hole in the center.
Large Crater at the Visitors Center
Large Crater at the Visitors Center
Next we went to a small park where it was as green and lush as a rainforest, but the real focal point was a large lava tube that you could walk through. Usually these lava tubes allow lava to flow underground as the top layers of lava are hardening. They are typically small, but this one was huge.
Lava Tube Entrance
Inside the Lava Tube
Next we made out way down to the place where the lava had flowed to the ocean, stopping at several lava fields along the way that we could get out and walk on. You could see the patterns of the lava as it flowed preserved in the now hardened and cooled lava.
Lava Flow
Lua Mana Lava Flow
Mauna Ula Lava Flow
When we reached the ocean area below the Pali (cliffs) we could see the ocean and the area where the lava had met the ocean. This is in the area where the current lava flow is now threatening a village because it’s no longer flowing to the ocean. They are constantly battling the lava here, sometimes clearing it as it covers the road, and sometimes abandoning roads and building new ones.
Where the lava flow meets the ocean
The Sea Arch
Near where the lava meets the ocean
The road to nowhere, an example of a road that was overtaken and they just decided to move the road
We headed back up the mountain to the Visitors center once more and had a small break there to view films about the flows, and to shop and have some refreshments.
We then headed off to an area where there were some active steam vents. We could also throw coins into one of the steam vents. Steph and Conrad decided to make their wish with a throw over their shoulder. Let’s just say that it took a couple of trys.
Steam Vent Area
Steam Vents
We headed over to a set of buildings that used to be an army barracks, but it’s now used as a place for service men and women to vacation with families. There are cottages where they can stay but the cafeteria is open to the public so we had dinner there. They had a salad bar, and a baked potato bar and made to order entrees. It was also very inexpensive by Hawaii standards.
After dinner we headed to the Museum which is the highest point and allowed is the best view of the glow from the lava inside of the crater that we had seen at the start of our day.
Glow Hole
Glow Hole
We said goodbye to Steve at the Airport and headed back to Oahu after a long but fun day.
Steve
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