Hawaii Day 6 June 1, 2023

 Today was rather epic.  Up and out the door at 6:15 to get to the airport ridiculously early to fly to the Big Island.  Our flight left around 9:10 and landed in Hilo at 9:50. We rented a small Kia and drove to Volcanoes National Park (in the rain), arriving around 11. (Park 52!)

First stop was the Visitor Center and it was packed.  We ran into a strange bird in the parking lot.

Strange Bird

We bought the magnets, stamped the passbooks then set out on drive.  First stop was the lava tube (which was very cool).  We parked ½ mile before the lava tube and hiked down to it on a cool path that overlooked Kilauea Iki Crater.  The lava tube was cool and sparked an interesting conversation amongst the family about how different cultures choose or choose not to get out of your way on a hiking trail. 

We drove all the way down to the Ocean Arch (Holei Sea Arch) – AMAZING

 Then we ate smushed sandwiches and apples at a picnic table.   

We followed the 19-mile road back towards the visitor center, stopping to look at a few craters along the way.  We then drove the Crater Rim trail that goes towards the west.

We stopped at the Steaming Vents then drove to the end of the road to the Uekahuna Overlook.  It was raining and I’m sure the view could have been amazing but we didn’t see much.  But the steaming crater in the photo below was the one that had been erupting and side note: began erupting again on June 7th.

We drove back past the Visitor enter and took a left on Hwy 11 then took a right a few miles down the road and drove 11.5 miles up to the Mauna Loa Lookout – Mauna Loa erupted in November 2022.  Prior to that it hadn’t erupted since 1985.  The drive was windy, one-lane and a bit treacherous.  Along the way we saw 5-10 Nene which is some sort of endangered duck looking thing – they don’t move out of the road.  

Endangered Nene Hen - probably endangered b/c they don't get out of the way of your car.

When we got the top, we couldn’t see a damn thing but had the day been clear, who knows.  Total bummer.

We got back to the airport at 5 (stopping to refill the car and grab snacks from the gas station).  We returned the car, printed boarding passed, made it through security and to our gate in like 23 minutes – so cool – as was the Hilo Airport.

We had to wait a while for our not-very-full flight but it was great.  I love Hawaiian Airlines with their turquoise seats and lots of leg room!  

Nick and I split a Bikini Blonde beer (Maui Brewing Company) and we got back “home” at 7.  We drove to Paia and ate dinner at Paia Fish Market then got home around 9…I think.

Funny comments of the day – Grant, who’s on Accutane, has very chapped lips – he and Ryan were having fun taking jabs at each other and Ryan told him he had POW lips 😊

We pretty much went straight to bed when we got home.