The Big Island - Volcano Nat'l Park Part II

October 31st and we go back to Volcano National Park for some hiking and to maybe see a lava flow at night and it is the last day of our Parks Pass.

We start out on the Mauna Ulu Eruption Trail.

Nature is amazing.  Things will find a way to grow through anything.

This is the January 1974 eruption

Caught a couple of the endangered Hawaiian Geese - Nenes - in flight.  They are endemic to Hawaii (found only here)  and only on 3 of the Islands.

Next we tackle the Kilauea Iki Crater Trail which is 4 miles round trip down through a rain forest to and across a Volcanic Crater Lake. 

It's coming into view!

Such a strange landscape.

Again in what seems like a vast wasteland a beautiful flowering bush pushes through.

There are still active steam vents.  Makes you wonder just how smart are you to be walking here? 

I may not be a smart woman but I can hoist large rocks over my head!

Someone call the Highway Dept.!  Reminds me of some of the roads in the Northeast after a bad winter!

It's getting dark so we head to the Jagger Museum to get a look of the Pu' U Huluhulu Crater Steam Vent at night.  There are signs everywhere warning you of the Sulphur in the air from the Volcanic Fumes.  1/2 the scenic loop road is closed because of it. 

The Steam Vent is definitely cooler at night - you see the glow from the Lava inside.  There were no viewable active lava flows when we were there - a disappointment - I guess there had been some spectacular ones back in September.   

Aloha!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

Hawaii the Big Island - West Side

King Kamehameha.  Hawaiians believe Kamehameha's birth fulfilled the prophecy that foretold of the birth of a male child who would rise to power and become a mighty conquerer and ruler of all the Hawaiian islands.

 A Seer told him that if he built a Heiau (Sacred Temple) dedicated to his war God he would achieve his destiny.  He built the Pu Ukohola Heiau between 1790 and 1791.  He conquered all the Islands by warfare except Kauai which was negotiated in 1810 and his prophecy of Hawaii being ruled by one was fullfilled.  This is Pu Ukohola Heiau

When life hands you lava rocks - build walls.  These are all hand layed without mortar.

Next is  Lapakahi State Historical Park

No one remembers when the walls were built or the people who first lived here, but they probably came for the bounty of the sea.

We continue up the Coast to Makapala for lunch.  Just outside town was this great tree house'

The road ends at Waipio Valley.  We of course cannot resist the signs and take the trail down.

It leads down to beautiful Waipio Bay.

It's a rock trail with lots of switchbacks.

But we keep our final destination in mind

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Time for a short rest.

Definately worth the trip!

A stroll along the beach before the tide comes back in.

Another beautiful day in Pardise!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

The Big Island - Volcano National Park

We decide to go to Volcano National Park before our National Parks Pass expires.  The volcano is southeast from us, it's a lovely drive.

We stopped off at a bakery for Breakfast - the birds seemed ever hopeful.

The geography starts to change.

As we drove we noticed a Buffalo and Zebra by the side of the road and had to pull over.

Turned out to be a Coffee Farm.

Next we came across a Black Sand beach

There were several Sea Turtles warming themselves on the Beach

It was fascinating to see them up (not too) close and personal.  Previously we had only seen them in rescue centers in rehabilitation pools.

We finally arrive at the Park

Just be careful where you drive.

Just remember - it's no longer your fault! 

Volcanos just need to let off some steam too. 

Halema ume u Crater letting of some steam

A short walk thru a rain forest to find the lava tube. 

There it is up ahead. 

Lava Tubes are where the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like tube.

Overlooking the Makahopui Crater. It's getting too late to walk it so we decide to return another day.

Aloha!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

The Big Island -Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (Place of Refuge)

Turns out the Big Island is really Big!  We start out by driving to Pu uhonua O' Honaunau - the Place of Refuge.  In Hawaii if you broke a law the penalty was death.  Looking at the Chief, stepping on Royal Grounds or casting your shadow upon him were all punishable by death . 

Your only option for survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the nearest pu uhonua, or place of refuge.

Walls mark the boundaries between the royal grounds and the sanctuary.

Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the reconstructed Hale o Keawe (Sacred Temple)   The original temple, built around 1650 and long ago destroyed, housed the bones of at least 23 chiefs. believed to infuse the area with their power or mana. If you reached this sacred place, a priest would be obligated to offer you sanctuary and absolution, under pain of his own death should he refuse to do so. 

There are replicas of old outrigger canoes.

This gentleman was making fish hooks out of shells using a hand drill made from a twig, string and stone with a volcano rock tip for the drill bit.

We even ran into a Sea Turtle

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary