THE END: Hawaii the Big Island

After hiking at the Volcano National Park we headed out to check out the East Side of the Island. We drove to Kalapana on the Southeast Side.
Kalapana was once a small Hawaiian fishing village. It was also the site of one of the Hawaii's Black Sand Beaches considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Hawaii. But in 1990, it was mostly destroyed by an eruption of Kilauea . Lava buried the town and the Royal Garden Subdivision under 60 feet of molten rock.

Hard to believe there was once a town here

We heard said not to feel sorry for those who lost their houses, but for those who did not. A few houses still stand, surrounded by lava without water or power or roads. Since the houses themselves were intact, the insurance companies would not pay out any claims on them.

This is a picture of the Black Sand Beach before the lava flow.

A local native took it upon herself to try and bring back the beautiful coconut grove that lead to the beach. She worked planting hundreds, then thousands, of sprouted coconut and other palms and encouraged others to join her. She was later diagnosed with cancer and rather than give up, doubled her efforts, continuing her campaign to replant and recover the village, the community pitching in even more after she passed away. Today there are thousands of young trees growing on the no-longer barren lava and a new black sand beach is forming.

Seems you can just toss a coconut anywhere and it will grow.

Though Madame Pele destroyed a beautiful beach and fishing village - the end destruction has its own beauty.

Back on the road as time is getting away from us once again. The road is covered by trees.

We stop in a small park and watch the surf pounding. Imagine this square rock was lifted up onto the shore by the waves.

Not your typical fishing hole.

Careful! You could get wet!

From here we head to Rainbow Falls. We take a short hike and find this great Banyan Tree.

Just how big is it? Pretty darn big!

Rainbow Falls. It is just a few blocks from downtown Hilo. It plunges 60' down into a 100' pool. There is a cavern behind it where legend says the Goddess Hina lived

2 miles further up the road are the "Boiling Pots" During the rainy season, which can be anytime, the river churns through a succession of "pots," resembling a steaming Jacuzzi. Some of the river water flows beneath a level of old lava, then suddenly bubbles up as if it were boiling.