It was an early 6am bags, 7am bus, day as we had to go to Lihue Airport for a short hop to Honolulu, before moving on to Kona on the Big Island. We had to do security twice! Paul had left his corkscrew in his carry on bag so we were sent back through security (despite it being within TSA guidelines) and had to stick it in the checked bag before going back through. Fortunately we could take an official short cut as the line was very long! So, I did the security ghost train a second time (it wasn't any more fun!)
Once through, we didn't have to wait long before we were able to board. For a change Di and I had a window seat so we took some photos on the 25 minute flight. A quick cup of fruit juice and we were back at Honolulu.
There was about an hour's wait for our next flight. This time Dave and Colin got the window seat so I didn't take so many photos. Oahu is pretty built up, compared with the other islands.
Once on the Big Island, we headed for our bus as the airport porters sorted out our checked bags. Our driver for the day was Derek.
Our first stop was at the Thomas A Jaggar Museum at the Kiluea Caldera. From here we saw an awesome hole in the ground. Here and there was what looked like smoke coming out of the ground - some of which was rain falling on the heated ground and steaming, but also some hydrogen sulphide, giving out that lovely rotten eggs smell.
Inside the museum you can find out more about volcanoes, including types of lava and eruptions. In the picture below centre, you can see solid lava, created when lava cools on land, and that sits on a bed of black sand (more on that later!) As the lava enters the sea, the cold water meets very hot molten rock and shatters into millions of tiny pieces, making the sand. We only had about twenty minutes here - lots to see today - so we couldn't hang about. One last look at six hundred square miles of volcano and we were outta there!
We headed to an area by the side of the road where you could get up really close to the steam coming out of the ground - where the rain turns to steam in the volcanic heat. It was surprisingly hot! So much so, the camera fogged up a couple of times.
There was an eruption at Lua Manu in 1974, which lasted for about four hours, near the crater's edge. It didn't take long before trees began to grow again but nine miles of roadway were covered by the lava flow. Lava trees were created when the lava would surround a tree and as it cooled would burn the tree within.
Is it just me or does this look like a Doctor Who set?
In 1959, Kilauea Iki erupted and the tropical rainforest there was covered in lava, creating the Devastation Trail. This is now a half mile walk with rainforest on one side and a spartan lava hill on the other.
We stood on the side of a crater. This was Kilauea Iki, a lake of lava over 400 feet deep, created in the 1959 eruption, which eventually receded, leaving a high lava mark. Take a look at the tiny people in the photo below centre - gives you an idea how big this crater is!
Our next stop was at the Kilauea Iki Trail head. From here it is possible to walk down on this still active crater, but we didn't have time for that (or the energy!) Instead, we would take a look at the Nahuku Thurston Lava Tube. At source, fast-flowing lava creates channels which gradually cool around the edges while the core remains hot, until eventually a surrounding lava crust is formed. Often the lava flowing through will drain away, leaving these tubes.
Once the lava left, the bugs, vegetation (and tourists!) moved in. This lava tube was discovered in 1913 by Lorrin Thurston, who published a local newspaper. When discovered, the roof had many lava stalactites hanging from the roof, but in those days they didn't stop the souvenir collectors. Today, the tunnels are lit and National Park Rangers give talks about the formation of the tunnels. You can get an idea of scale from those folks standing at the far end of the tube Pretty cool eh?
Once through the tunnel we clambered up some steps. The same Ranger found some wild strawberries (I know they're white, they're just not ripe yet). Then back out into the jungle - well it sure looks like it.
We continued on to Black Sand Beach (Punalu'u Beach). As explained earlier the sand here was created as the molten lava entered the sea and shattered into tiny pieces. It was here that Pam thought we should take a group photo. I have to admit it's a nice spot.
There were a couple of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles just lazing on the beach, about fifteen feet away, behind a protective piece of string! It was awesome to see them there - though it seems some folks couldn't read the keep back and leave them alone signs.
Leaving the turtles in peace we headed back towards the bus. I took a few minutes to reflect on the Pacific Ocean - what a beautiful place Hawaii is.
We continued our journey to our final stop of the day - the Panalu'u Bake Shop - a local island bakery that also sells ice cream! They had a gift shop too with the usual unexciting stuff. It was bedlam in there with a bus full of folks trying to buy stuff before they closed in ten minutes, not to mention a few non-bus folks. I had a Kona coffee ice cream and took it to eat in the gardens.
They had all kinds of stuff growing in the gardens, but the coolest was seeing the pineapple. Pam told me this is the southernmost bakery in all of the United States!
Back on the bus, Pam was kind enough to pass around some of the bakery's signature doughnuts - guava, mango and regular sugar ones. They were like our jam doughnuts, but flavoured and coloured orange and purple rather than being jam-filled.
We had a ninety minute journey onwards to the hotel. As we travelled we passed some bison. As time passed, the sun began to set.
As we drove through the town of Kona, Pam explained the lie of the land. Our hotel, the Royal Kona Resort was on the seafront (again!) and despite Pam's warnings, we had another sea view.
Our room wasn't bad at all, with a large television, two beds, fridge, sink, bathroom, coffee-maker (although Pam said we'd only get one pack of coffee this stay - extras were $1.50/time). Unfortunately, there was no free Wi-Fi, though we could pay $9.95. Hmm, that's a dropped Ted for them then. They didn't win any points for the fact that they also didn't have a Business Centre, nor computers in the lobby. Nothing. We used the smartphone as we couldn't be bothered to head out to an internet cafe.
They were a bit tight on towels too, and the air conditioning unit for the hotel was outside the window so a bit noisy. There was a huge sliding window out onto a balcony so we let them off for that, and the fact they did replace our coffee! (Good move, Royal Kona!)
After a very long day, we couldn't be bothered to go out. We'd read reviews about Don's Mai Tai Bar down in the lobby, which weren't exactly great, but it was handy so that's where we headed. It was mostly open air, with tables overlooking the rocks. It was here the Mai Tai cocktail was supposedly invented.
Under the circumstances, we started with a Mai Tai sampler - four different 4.5 ounce shots. They were all okay, though the Volcano was a little strong.
For dinner Di orderderd a Tiki Salad and I had a Blue Hawaiian Burger, which was Angus beef, seared in a blackening spice, blue cheese with caramelised onions and sauteed mushrooms. It wasn't bad at all! "We" had no room for dessert (my assistants are lousy eaters!) so we headed back to our rooms to bed.
