Our Last Day in Hawaii

We chose to spend the day at Spencer Beach. The facilities were great there, Scott, Elyse and I got to shower and change so we were all ready for our flight home that evening.

We got a late check out with my parent's condo, so everyone got to have a place to store their bags while we we out at the beach for the day, We also got to eat dinner there and watch the sun set!

It was a bit crowded with all our bags in the condo

Everyone on the beach!

Hapuna Beach

Volcanoes National Park & Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Everyone except Elyse had been to Volcanoes National Park, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa last spring when they were on their Hawaiian Island Cruise; and Scott and I in 2005. We all wanted to go back again this year, there was a few things that we wanted to show everyone, mostly where the lava flowed over the road at the end of Chain of Craters Road and the Petroglyphs.

We started our visit in the park by visiting the Visitors Center then checking out the Thurston Lava tube. We then headed out to the end of Chain of Craters Road. This is where we saw the sea arch, some how Scott and I missed it last time we were there. 

The wind was crazy!!! poor Elyse got blown over a couple of times on our walk out to where the lava flowed over the road. It was extreme "picnic-ing" for lunch, trying to keep the food on our plates and the plates on the table ;)

After our picnic lunch we did a short hike out to the petroglyphs, very cool to see. Thank goodness the wind was blowing, it kept us cool.

Our last stop in the park was to check out the steaming crater and the Jaggar Museum.

The sea arch that Scott and I somehow missed last time we visited

The walk in the wind out to where the lava covered the road

Elyse getting a ride

Papa showing Elyse the pretty flowers

Last time Scott and I visited the Big Island, we hiked down to the bottom of Waipio Valley to check out the black sand beach. I was doing some reading, and found a black sand beach with really easy access. We stopped by Punalu'u beach on our way back to the condo after our day at Volcanoes.

Turtles sunning themselves on the black sand

Relaxing around the Condo

Elyse's bed in Hawaii - Queen size pull out - she managed to use almost the whole bed while sleeping there

My dad enjoying the view and a cup of coffee

The resort south of us Keauhou held an Earth and Ocean Festival to celebrate Earth Day. They had a lot of stuff to check out and lots of performances to watch as well.

The view from our table at dinner - a great view of the sun setting across the bay

Spencer Beach

We finally found a great white sand beach that Elyse could play in the water. Spencer Beach was about a 45 minute drive north of Kona. We really liked this beach because of its great facilities, flush toilets, showers, picnic tables etc, we also loved it because some of the beach had great shade trees and when you are as white as Scott and I are, you need shade on the beach!

There are worse places to be stuck when your rental car breaks down!!

Mom and Dad's rental car had some serious issues as they were driving it north to the beach. They managed to limp it into the parking lot. We were really lucky that we had cell service and the rental car company sent out a new car and took the other one away

Bye Bye broken down Blue Fusion! Hello new White Fusion!

Hulihee Palace and Kahalu'u

This morning my mom, Grandma, Grandpa and myself headed into Kona to check out Hulihee Palace in Kona and of course to do some shopping! Scott, Elyse and my Dad spent the morning playing on the beach.

Outside Hulihee Palace

 After lunch we all headed back to Kahalu'u Beach to do some snorkeling and playing in the sand and water (Magic Sands Beach next door doesn't have any sand left down by the water, not the safest for Elyse to play in). Later this week we are going to try and find some white sand beaches north of Kona.

Elyse and I hanging out on the beach together

Elyse and I snuggling - during happy hour at our place before we head out for dinner

Watching the sunset!

 

Hilo Hawaii Sights

We all spent the day exploring the sights around Hilo. We took the saddle road from Kona to Hilo, this road goes between the 2 major volcanoes on the island (Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa), and took a little less than 3 hours to get there.

We got to see Rainbow falls and the Boiling Pots (and of course got rained on). We also enjoyed a walk around Coconut Island and the beautiful Liliuokalani Gardens (Japanese in style). After a nice lunch in Hilo, where Scott got to try Loco Moco. A dish native to Hawaii, that is essential white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy!! (he insists that it is good... I am still a bit skeptical).

After lunch we drove about 15 minutes north of Hilo to visit Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden, of course Elyse fell asleep before we even left Hilo so Scott stayed in the car with her while we all toured the Garden. The trail down to the Garden was quite steep so my mom and grandma paid for a golf cart ride back up to the parking lot.

We continued our tour of the west side of  Hawaii (the Big Island), stopping to see Kahuna Falls and also visiting the lookout over Waipio Valley, Scott and I walked down to the black sand beach last time we visited. It was so windy and cold at the look out that we didn't stay long and headed north-east back to Kona. We stopped for dinner at a really great restaurant in Waimea. Waimea is where all of the cattle ranching occurs on the Big Island, and our dinner was delicious steak!

It was a long day but we all got to see and do so much! (Everyone also got to see just how big the Big Island is!!)

Elyse and Grandpa at Rainbow Falls - before it started to rain

Papa and Great-Grandma at the Boiling Pots - upstream of Rainbow Falls

Coconut Island - my Mom & Dad checking out the Carnival Cruise ship docked across the bay (almost a year ago, they were on the same cruise, checking out the Hawaiian Islands)

I love this photo of my Grandparents - Grandpa always the gentleman

A gecko in the parking lot of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

Beehive Ginger flowers

Mom and Grandma arriving at the top of the hill by the parking lot of the Garden

Elyse and Scott walking down to the Waipio Valley lookout

Surfing and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau

Today Scott got to finally go surfing, the surf had calmed down a bit and the guy who did his lesson was awesome! Scott is going to try and surf again later in the week.

Catching the wave the first try, Again! (he did this last time too when were were here)

After Scott was finished surfing we all headed out to explore Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park. This is a quote from the National Park Service web site, I think it pretty much sums up the site.

"Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the Kapu, and the only punishment was death.  Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Pu'uhonua, a place of refuge.  The Pu'uhonua protected the kapu breaker, civilians during the time of war and the defeated warriors.  No harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the place of refuge."

After exploring, we had a great picnic lunch just south of the park.

Papa and Great-Grandma enjoying a little bit of shade

Exploring before lunch

Lunch

Happy Hour around the pool!

4 Generations enjoying the afternoon

Magic Sands Beach, next to the condo. The surf is down but the sand is gone from the lower half of the beach!

Scott and my dad grilling up chicken