The Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii

September 2008

The City of Refuge as locals call it, or more correctly Honaunau Bay, is rated one of the top snorkeling places in the world. It is fabulous. One of our favorite snorkeling spots.

An eruption in the caldera at the visitors center.

Steam Vents - Rainwater sinks through the ground and is warmed by rocks which carry heat from the lava below. Hot water then rises through fissures to condense in the chilled air. The steam also contains sulfur dioxide and hyrogen sulfide. They sure stink.

Kilauea's eruptions tend to be spectacular but not explosive. We were lucky to be here when this was happening. We sat and watched it for about an hour. It truly is one of those remarkable sites you don't encounter often, if at all.

Thurston Lava Tube, also called Nahuku, is located in the rain forest ecological zone. The abundant rainfall contrubutes to the lush growth of the forest.
trees and the thick vegetation.

Hilo is always lush and green due to an annual rainfall of over 70 inches a
year and is the wettest city in the USA.

The Big Island is also the site of the world's first commercial macadamis plantations,

Mauna Loa named after the volcano.

Lava can be seen through 5o foot wide skylights. Now thats a big opening! Skylights are formed when peices of the tube roof collapse

Lava continually pours into the ocean, creating new land within a few weeks. If you look real close you can see the red along end edge of the rocks.

The rural communtity of Kalapana is covered by lava.

Wailuku River, where numerous waterfalls cascade into beautiful emerald pools.

Hilo Airport. Quite small.

So much for our picture. Larry made sure he got one with his cell phone. Good timing.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is near the Southern tip and is a nesting place for Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles.







The Banyan tree has got to be one of the strangest looking trees in the world, and Hilo is bursting with them.

Akaka Falls plunges 442 feet into a stream eroded gorge.

Located along the Haakua Coast on the Northeast shore is the Pololu lookout.
This outstanding view displays the raw, untamed side of the Big Island. 400 feet below

is Pololu black sand beach.

I just loved this picture of these cows. The grass was so green and

those black cows graising there in that beautiful field, was a picture waiting to be taken.

Maybe you had to be there yourself.

Windmills generate electricity for the Island

Located on the Kohala coast of Hawaii's Big Island, the Hilton Wailoloa Village lets you experience breathtaking tropical gardens, abundant wildlife, award-winning dining,

shopping, art and culture, and an array of activities ranging from golf and tennis

to an interactive dolphin pool. My cousin Carma and her husband

Larry spent 4 days with us on the Big Island.
We had the best time. I love you guys!!

I highly recommend a trip to see this remarkable Island. We've been to Hawaii 4 times and this is one of our favorite islands!