Big Island Scenic Drive
photo credit Waimea-Parker Ranch Bed Site
Driving around the Big Island has changed since my last visit. There’s now a “Short Cut” as the locals call it that cuts from the Kona Side to the Hilo on the east. It saves quite a bit of time as you don’t have to go to North Kohala or Waimea. Both beautiful areas Waimea is home to the Parker Ranch , a large cattle ranching operation that also offers hunting and ATVing.
Waimea, just a beauty
(Ke Anu O Waimea, Kuana Torres)
High above sun-drenched beaches and vast black lava fields, between the mountain shoulders of Kohala and Mauna Kea lies a green, rolling country where the cold misty rains blow on swirling winds. Here, where water is plentiful and forests grow tall in the hills, is the heart of Parker Ranch.”
When you leave Hilo or even Volcano National Park it is still shorter to return this way than to take the winding road over the mountain.
Kona Coast
DCF 1.0
Feral Goats Still Roam
As I headed across the island toward Hilo I thought I saw a goat! A bit further along I spotted another one. I thought they were probably some farmer’s or maybe a child’s pet but as I continued along I saw more and more. I began to wonder if they were wild. After a bit of research I learned that prior to 1778, there were no goats on any of the Hawaiian Islands. It was upon the arrival of Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver that goats were introduced to the islands. It is believed that the first goats were brought on shore in the Kealakekua Bay area of Kona. I made a note to come back another day to get some pictures. They seemed to be very plentiful. So no donkeys but they do have goats!
Hilo and Akaka Falls
Akaka Falls 2007
Just north of Hilo I started watching for the turn off to Akaka Falls. I took pictures when I was here in 2007 but I wanted to see if I could get some fresh photos with my new camera. The Falls were farther off the main road than I remembered. As I began to approach the state park the road was clogged with cars. They were parked all along the sides of the road. A lemonade stand was doing a brisk business. The parking area was filled ($5.00). Since walking any long distance was an iffy proposition I really wanted to get into the parking lot. $5.00 was a small price to pay but no one seemed to be leaving. I decided to go see if I could fine Rainbow Falls. After that I could come back. Maybe everyone would have gone to lunch by then.
Alaska Road Trip
Shortly after that the bus to bus radio crackled to life. There was a grizzly chasing a moose along side the road. The lead bus gave us the mile marker but by the time we got there they were gone. No sign of either moose or bear. A bit farther along the way we spotted another moose. This one was also trotting along the side of the road. Just as my window came even it turned and scrambled up the bank toward the woods. 
This lodge was pretty unique right down to the antler door handles. A shuttle bus took you around the property. The main activity here seemed to be Denali watching. It’s rare when the clouds clear to give a view of the peak. They even have an alert system so when Denali is visible you can check it out. We were lucky. A good portion of the mountain was visible the whole time we were there.
