Hilo is a cane field town with a population of 42,000. The Big Island of Hawaii is over twice the size of all the other islands combined. It contains the most southerly point in the USA. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, at almost 14,000 feet, are the tallest mountains in the Hawaiian Islands and are actually the tallest in the world, if height is taken from the seabed, rather than sea level (which is Everest).
We rented a car and drove to Kilauea Volcano National Park,
where we saw a very interesting Visitors Centre, the Jagger Museum, Steam Vents and also Lava tunnels (geography lesson J).
We had great views of the steaming caldera and got to walk on the lava (that had cooled off!!) It was amazing to see all the different colours within the lava rock.
where we saw a very interesting Visitors Centre, the Jagger Museum, Steam Vents and also Lava tunnels (geography lesson J).
We had great views of the steaming caldera and got to walk on the lava (that had cooled off!!) It was amazing to see all the different colours within the lava rock.
Later we went to Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots, just outside of Hilo. Charlotte made friends with one of the local ladies who made a basket for her.
We bought a nice lai of lovely flowers, which made our cabin smell great for a few days! Looking forward to more of this in the South Pacific islands.
We bought a nice lai of lovely flowers, which made our cabin smell great for a few days! Looking forward to more of this in the South Pacific islands.
Heading out from Hilo, on our way to Maui, we had hoped to see the glow of the lava flowing off the volcano, which recently became active again, but not to be as we headed along the north coast rather than the south.
Jimmy had his operation today – Robbie and Kenny kept us updated that all had gone well, they had removed the lump and the left half of the thyroid, which, according to the doctor, looked clean but would take 10 days to know for sure.
