 |
| I'm watching you CF! |
So, we had a family vacation to the big island of Hawaii. It was nice to go on vacation and actually have Russ with us. We were there for about 4 days and boy we didn't miss a beat. The minute we landed on Tuesday, we got in our rental, headed to Kilauea Military Camp, got into our cabin, and we were out the door to explore. That evening we walked to the steam vents, and then hiked crater rim trail to Jagger Museum to watch the glow of Kilauea caldera at night. Wednesday we explored the volcano park. We stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, pit craters, lava fields along the road, petroglyphs trail, scenic outlooks, and the Holei Sea Arch. After that we left and ate supper in Hilo. Thursday we went to Kona to check it out and we had a parasailing excursion planned. The three of us parasailed together.....it was so much fun experiencing it together. After parasailing we ate lunch, changed into fall/winter clothes and headed for the Mauna Kea visitor center. While we were there, we hiked up a on top of a very high hill, watched the sun set, took some beautiful pictures, drank hot chocolate, and stargazed. Friday we hiked Kilauea Iki Crater (it was once a lava lake), drove south, ate lunch at the Southernmost restaurant (Hana Hou) in the USA, went to the Southernmost point in the USA (Ka Lae), and hit a black sand beach with some sea turtles. That night after we got back to the cabin, Russ made a fire and we had some more hot chocolate. Saturday all we did was let Rach play at the playground across from our cabin and then we had to head to the airport. Boo Hoo. It was an amazing trip. Rachel seriously kicked CF butt. She/we hiked about 12 miles and she only missed one chest therapy treatment.
Now, it's time to share the pics. I must warn you.....there are a ton!
 |
| lunch at Ken's House of Pancakes |
 |
| to the steam vents |
 |
| Rachel in the steam |
 |
| steam vents |
 |
| Rachel with Halema'uma'u Crater smoking |
 |
| Nene crossing.....those are unusual looking birds! |
 |
| Halema'uma'a Crater |
 |
hiking crater rim to go view
the night glow of Halema'uma'a Crater |
 |
| Russ and Rachel hiking |
 |
| Halema'uma'a Crater glowing |
 |
| yea....we were watching for cracks |
 |
| crystallized sulfur at Sulfur Banks |
 |
| lava field...one of many |
 |
| lava field with beautiful ocean view |
 |
| at the Holei Sea Arch |
 |
| heading out with the top down |
 |
| parasailing in Kona |
 |
| what a thrill |
 |
while we were up, we saw a pod of dolphins
and a manta ray |
 |
| yea, they dipped us |
 |
| back up dripping |
 |
lunch after parasailing
Russ and Rach playing a little rock, paper, scissors |
 |
| and I'm drinking! |
 |
of course Rach found fake people
to take a pic with! |
 |
beautiful stained glass inside
the first church of the islands
MoKuaiKaua (est. 1820)
we went in and said some prayers
and thanked God for all our blessings |
 |
we had to bundle up in winter wear;
up near Mauna Kea visitor center
watching the sunset atop a very big hill
quite a hike up... |
 |
Miss Rachel
trying to stay warm |
 |
view from the top of our sunset hike
up the hill |
 |
this was a hike across what
once was a lava lake |
 |
| on the trail - hopping across a muddy spot |
 |
| starting the journey across the lava lake |
 |
Russ and Rach....got tired of waiting for me
....guess I was taking too many pics! |
 |
very interesting and a little unsettling
knowing we were standing on what
used to be a lake of hot lava |
 |
| cracks everywhere |
 |
don't step on a crack or
you'll fall in! |
 |
| across the lava lake |
 |
Hana Hou
Southernmost restaurant in the USA |
 |
we are standing in the Southernmost point in the USA
Ka Lae, HI |
 |
| there's the proof |
 |
on the way back to KMC
we stop at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
and had the pleasure to share the beach with these guys |
 |
| the only beach time she had on our big island trip |
 |
| yea....I know, I'm blessed to have him |
 |
| I'm blessed to have her, too! |
No comments:
Post a Comment