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!!)
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| Elyse and Grandpa at Rainbow Falls - before it started to rain |
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| Papa and Great-Grandma at the Boiling Pots - upstream of Rainbow Falls |
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| 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) |
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| I love this photo of my Grandparents - Grandpa always the gentleman |
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| A gecko in the parking lot of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden |
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| Beehive Ginger flowers |
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| Mom and Grandma arriving at the top of the hill by the parking lot of the Garden |
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| Elyse and Scott walking down to the Waipio Valley lookout |
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