In May we went to Hawaii and visited the big island for two weeks of hiking, snorkeling, kyaking, surfing, boogie boarding, exploring and relaxing on the beach.
We stayed in Kona on the west side of the island. This is the "dry" side and gets a lot less rain than the east side of the island.
These colorful geckos were all over the island. They were quick to run so you had to be fast to get their photo.
Scott is standing in front of the entrance to a mile long lava tube that you were supposed to be able to hike in. Maybe if you were 3 feet tall! We explored just inside the entrance where you could stand and examined the crystals and forming stalactites.
The botanical garden was full of exotic and unusual flowers. The gardens are located on the east side of the island and get a lot more rain than the west side.
We really can't do too many vacations without visiting the fish. Someone was feeding these guys so it was easy to get photos.
We visited a local orchid grower who had a fantastic selection of orchids. Our moms got special deliveries from Hawaii for Mothers day this year.
Lots of waterfalls all over the island. They go all the way up to 2000 feet tall.
Close up inside a flower in the botanical garden. There are things growing in every nook and cranny here.
2000 foot waterfall at the end of Waipi'o Valley. Great hike through the Kohala Forest Reserve to get there.
Scott is looking at the Kilauea Iki Crater in Volcanoes National Park. The lush rain forest goes right up to the edge of the hardened lava that filled this valley after an eruption. We walked across this area. It was amazing how barren the land is down there. There are still steam vents where we could feel the heat of the ground below. Both beautiful and spooky at the same time.
First helicopter ride was a total success. What a great way to get another view of the volcano. This is Pu'u 'O'o. It is still erupting and we saw some hot pockets of red lava in the crater.
One night we got to Royal Gardens (or what is left of it) just at dusk and were fortunate to see these two rivers of lava. It was the best sighting we saw on the whole trip of active lava.
