Hawaii is a state of the United States of America located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state located outside North America and the only island state. Distant and exotic it is on everyone’s bucket list. While travel is at a standstill, I thought I’d share a slide show from my trips to Hawaii. The photos are from Oahu, Maui and The Big Island. They include landscapes, water sports, flora and fauna. There is so much in Hawaii to see.
A Big Island TourAfter the tremendous rain storm on Monday I decided to look into a Volcano tour. I was feeling lazy and didn’t want to do all the driving again. I had a choice of a Deluxe Volcano Experience or the Grand Volcano Experience.
My choice was the Deluxe Tour. I don’t drink coffee and when we stayed at Sea Mountain Resort we had the chance to visit Punalu’u and see the black sand beach. As for sea turtles, it would have been nice to see them but I was pretty sure I could find some at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. The concierge raved about the gourmet meal at the Kilauea Lodge I selected a steak dinner. Other choices were fish and a vegetarian choice of Eggplant Parmesan.
Wednesday morning our Mercedes-Benz mini coach arrived right on time. Our tour guide’s name was Zane like Zane Grey, the author. He said his father was a big western fan. Zane was a geologist by trade and had lived on the Big Island for 10 years so he was very familiar with Kilauea and her “moods”. Even so I don’t think he anticipated the temper tantrum that started right after I left the island. But more on that in another post.
We had a full tour. We had 2 young men from Australia, a couple from India, a family of 5 from the mainland, a handicapped lady and her friend and me. As the only single I got to sit up front in the “shotgun” seat. Our group was spread out over a number of resorts so we had a series of stops before we were on our way.
There was no sign of rain as I left Akaka State Park. By the time I entered Hilo the sky was getting really dark and clouds were rolling in. I was stopped at the light in front of Ken’s Pancake House when BANG! A thunder clap so loud it seemed to shake the car opened up the downpours. I do mean Downpours! This was rain of biblical proportions. It was a deluge. I know Hilo is on the rainy side of the island but this was crazy! I decided to scratch Rainbow Falls and head back to Kona…the dry side. Of course I never do anything easy. I missed a turn somewhere and found myself down by the harbor. It was breathtaking even in the weather, or maybe because of the storm. The waves were breaking high on a rocky shore. No quiet black sand beach here.
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Although I didn’t stop for lunch at Ken’s it was a familiar landmark. When we were on the Big Island in 2007 we ate many meals there. I was good to see it was still operating. From the looks of the parking lot, which was full, they were still doing a brisk business. Ken’s House of Pancakes opened its doors in 1971. It became the first, and only 24-hour business on the East-side of the Big Island. It’s got a huge menu with a wide variety. Just because it says Pancake house doesn’t mean you can’t get a good burger.
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Back on the right track I decided to head over toward Volcano National park. The rain was showing so sign of letting up but I was hoping it would follow the normal pattern of a brief rain shower and then sun. It wasn’t looking promising. If anything the rain was coming down even harder. Windshield wipers on high just couldn’t keep up. Cars were pulling over to wait for a break in the storm. I continued on, slowly. When I reached Volcano National Park and there was no sign of the rain letting up I decided to head back to Kona. I didn’t know that with the new road it was quicker to retrace my steps than to go over the southern mountain. Besides I wanted to see if the road was as scary as I remembered it. After all, I survived the Road to Hana on Maui so this road should be a piece of cake.
I don’t mind it raining on my vacation. Without the rain there’s be now rainbows. The water falls would dry up and the lush jungle flowers would disappear. Bring on the rain!
After the rain,, the rainbow
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
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!
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.
Crispy Spam is a breakfast MeatI admit I like Spam. When I let that out to my friends and co workers I get disgusted looks and groans. (The same one I use for Liver and Onions.) Massachusetts folks can be such food snobs! In Hawaii my love of Spam is welcomed. I’m surrounded by other Spam lovers. MacDonald’s even has a “Delicious Breakfast”. It’s rice, scrambled eggs and Spam! I doubt you’ll see that on a menu in Massachusetts anytime soon. They also have a Spam Wrap you can find in the deli section of your food market. It’s a Spam & Rice roll. Looks like sushi. I skipped the Spam on my breakfast plate. I settled for a boring old Big Breakfast. I’m heading out to drive around the Island and I wasn’t sure if I’d find anyplace for lunch or how long it would take so I wanted to fill up before I left.
After a satisfying breakfast at MacDonald’s I headed north on the main road along the Kona Coast. All along this road it looks like they are preparing to do construction. The ground appears to be all churned up. There is a lot of construction but don’t be fooled by appearances. Almost all of the churned up appearing land is natural. These fields are all covered in Aa (pronounced ah ah) lava. Aa lava is thick and it breaks into chunks as it moved down slope form the volcano. When it cools and hardens it looks like churned up dirt. Much of this is from an eruption in 1984. There’s a lava tube on the right side of the road as you travel north.
Donkey CrossingAlong the way you’ll see Donkey Crossing signs. Donkey Crossings? What’s that about. I had to check it out. Apparently the Big Island had a feral donkey problem. I didn’t remember that but it was bad enough that they installed signs hoping drivers would slow down. The donkeys liked to come out on the roads at night because the pavement was warmer than the fields. It retained the heat from the daytime. Along came an unsuspecting motorist and splat. A Donkey pancake and a busted car. When the signs didn’t help they rounded up the donkeys and shipped them to auction on the mainland. But the signs remain.
