We received a phone call from cousins we hadn't seen in over 20 years who were planning a trip to Maui (from Idaho where they live) and wanted to come visit us on the Big Island for a day. Needless to say we were very excited and told them we would take them around to see some of the sites.
Their plans were to fly in from Maui on Monday morning and return early on Tuesday, so we wanted to pack as much into those few hours. Only two of the five would make the trip.
Eric is the son of my first cousin and was a teenager last time I saw him and Ryan is his son whom I had never met. Seeing them Monday was as if no time at all had passed, regarless of how many white hairs I've grown through these lo many years.
We packed our cooler and a picnic basket with all of our usual paraphernalia and we grabbed jackets as we didn't know what to expect with the coolish and wet weather we have been having lately.
We met them at the Hilo airport, grabbed some ready made sandwiches and some drinks before heading south on Highway 11. We thought we would go to Punaluu Black Sand Beach first as our farthest point and then work our way back and spend sometime at Hawaii National Volcanoes Park.
We could not have asked for a better tour-'round-the-island-day...It was sunny and cool and slightly breezy. Perfect!
On the way south we made our customary stop when we have visitors for a photo op by the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park signs.
Welcome to the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. Ryan, Eric and Anthony.
At Punaluu Black Sand Beach we found several big turtles sunning in the sand in different places. Normally, we would not have walked on the sand as the turtles will build nests and bury their eggs under it, but the warning signs were not up, so we guessed correctly this was not nesting season.
Ryan decided then and there to make the honu (turtle) his aumakua (totem) and had his photo taken with one in the background.
We then found these three honu just being lazy in the sun.
Ryan, Eric and Anthony posing with the honu.
After spending quite a while enjoying the turtles and the briny smell of fresh sea air, we headed back north on Highway 11 to first enjoy our picnic at the Kipuka Puaulu (Bird Park) on Mauna Loa Road. We had a lot to cram into our day, so we didn't walk through the park as I would normally like to do.
Our Picnic at Bird Park.
After lunch we continued on to the Park entrance and found out that we could not take the Crater Rim drive as the VOG emissions from Halemaumau Crater in the Kilauea Caldera were pretty strong.
We could at least see the crater from the JaggarMuseum overlook.
When going inside the museum building, we noticed the seismograph that was showing the most activity was the one measuring earthquakes under the Halemaumau Crater.
Snow on Mauna Loa taken from the Jaggar Museum.
Eric just inside the entrance of the Thurston Lava Tube.
Snow on Mauna Kea taken from Highway 11 before turning in Kea'au on to Highway 130 to go to the Kalapana lava viewing area.
At the end of 130 Hawaii County has built a road of sorts so that cars can drive closer to the area where lava is flowing into the ocean from the flanks of Kilauea. The output of lava from the Pu'u O'o vent is now in it's 26th year (since January 3rd 1983).
We arrived there around 5 o'clock and parked then walked through the parking area and then on to the 3/4 mile path to a contained area where visitors can sit and wait for dark to see the 'fireworks'.
I was not able to capture the 'pyrotechnics' caused when hot lava hits cold ocean water and rocks and boulders are thrown up into the air, but caught this gorgeous shot just as the sun was setting.
After spending a couple of hours watching the fireworks in the dark along with about a hundred other visitors, we hiked the 3/4 mile trail and back and then to the car for our drive back to Hilo so they could check in at their hotel.
Afterwards we stopped at Ken's House of Pancakes for a late dinner, drove them around Banyan Drive and Liliu'okalani Park and then on to the main area of Old Hilo Town and then to their hotel for the night.
Cannot wait until they return with the whole family next time and we will take them up to the top of Mauna Kea and all the way around the island!
We had a very good time with you, Eric and Ryan. Come back soon!
Me ke aloha pumehana... until we see you again.
I can't guanrantee the honu will be sunning and the snow on the mountains but we can try! Thanks!
Posted by: ClubPenguinCheats | May 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Sammy, mahalo means thanks or thank you. Mahalo nui loa is thank you very much.
The word for hello/goodbye/love/affection is Aloha.
Posted by: Sonia | March 22, 2010 at 07:00 AM
@Napua, I thought mahalo was like hello/goodbye, not "thanks." Then again, I've never been one to remember the odd greeting, so I guess I could be wrong here. Am I, or is it used for all 3?
Posted by: Sammy | March 21, 2010 at 08:46 PM
Looks like fun. My parents loved it there and wish they never had to come back.
Posted by: Lane Bryant Coupons Girl | February 05, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Donna, on your next visit we can do the same itinerary.....I can't guanrantee the honu will be sunning and the snow on the mountains but we can try!
Posted by: Sonia | January 11, 2009 at 06:14 AM
Looks like a fabulous day! Makes me think that perhaps it's time for me to make an anniversary visit there again. Oh, if only!
Posted by: madame donna | January 10, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Looks like a fabulous day! Makes me think that perhaps it's time for me to make an anniversary visit there again. Oh, if only!
Posted by: madame donna | January 10, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Aloha Rowena......someday I will love to learn how a wahine from Hilo and Kauai ended up in Italy!
Your blog is (to use a very over used word) "awesome".....
I placed it on my Bookmarks....
Mahalo nui for dropping by!
Posted by: Sonia | January 10, 2009 at 05:56 AM
Hi Sonia!
I finally got around to checking my emails after being away and found your message to be like a "welcome home" from the place most dearest to my heart. I was back "home" on Kauai during the months of October and November 2008! At one point, Hilo was also home from '93 - '97.
You've got a wonderful blog here and I must thank you for contacting me. Love the honu -- what an awesome shot!
Posted by: rowena | January 09, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Mahalo, Larry. It is fun to play tourist once in a while. Gives me more appreciation for where we live!
The Waikupanaha Ocean Entry youtube video looks about the same as when we were there....
I just didn't catch the explosions in a still photo....I'm hoping my cousins were able to get good video after dark.
BTW, the view of Mauna Kea this morning from our back lanai and through my office window is gorgeous!
Posted by: Sonia | January 09, 2009 at 08:21 AM