As we sailed around The Big Island to get from Kona to Hilo, the rough waters continued throughout the night.
At 7:00 A.M. we were luck to see this fat rainbow and the nearby mountain appeared red in the early morning light.
In 2014 we rented a car and drove around the Big Island, including visiting Hilo. Many of these pictures are from that trip. We decided not to pay for an excursion on the cruise since we had already visited most of the places.
Widescreen view of Akaka Falls, 422 feet tall
Hilo is known as Hawaii’s Little Big City and is nestled on the slopes of three volcanoes. It has a population of around 41,000. It is one of the wettest towns in the United States. The University of Hawaii has a campus there as well as on other islands. Hilo was hit by tsunamis in 1946 and 1960.
We love the huge, lovely trees called Monkeypod we noticed around the town of Hilo.
The Monkeypod trees look like large umbrellas
Rainbow Falls usually make rainbows in the morning hours
There is a lighthouse on the easternmost point of the state of Hawaii called Cape Kumukahi. Since this is where the sun first shines in Hawaii every day of every year, it is of spiritual importance to native Hawaiians. In 1960 Kilauea erupted, destroying a town near the lighthouse and crops nearby. Just as it appeared the lighthouse would be engulfed by the lava, it split into two streams and flowed into the sea on either side, sparing the structure. People were amazed by this phenomenon and felt it was a message from the god Pele telling them of the lighthouse’s importance to the people.
This Cape Kumukahi lighhouse was saved on 1960 when the lava flow split and went around the lighhouse fence
Here is the height of the 1960 lava flow next to the Cape Kumukahi lighthouse
Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 and became a World Heritage Site in 1987. The Big Island is the largest and the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, home to the world’s most active volcanoes, and this park is a good example of why and how this is true. The overcast sky is due to increases in gasses called “volcanic smog”, also called “vog”. This vog blows west towards Kona during trade wind weather. The park is 33,000 acres of lava land on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest mountain by volume and the world’s tallest when measured from the ocean floor. Five volcanoes make up the Big Island.
Mauna Loa is not only 56,000 feet above the ocean floor but also has a large volume.
Kilauea is a relatively young volcano estimated to be 600,000 years old and first erupted 2,500 years ago.
Kilauea Crater leaks lava through its top and side rift zones
Halemaumau Crater emitting gas plume at the summit of Kilauea Crater/Volcano
The newest Hawaiian island, already named Loihi, is being created 22 miles offshore from volcanic activity growing on the ocean floor. It will be thousands of years before the new island emerges, so don’t let anyone try to sell you a cheap condo there!
Night view of Halemaumau Crater emitting gas plume
Thurston Lava Tube is a 500 year old massive lava cave. It was an easy walk through the well lighted cave.
Thurston Lava Tube
Thurston Lava Tube
Kilauea Iki Crater created in 1959
Kilauea Iki Crater with Halemaumau Crater emitting gas plume in the distance
Pauahi Crater
Younger lava flows are dark
Some of the newest coastline looks like this
Sea arch within the Volcanoes NP
The port is located in an industral area, not very attractive and not convenient to the city.
View of Hilo from the Ship
These are pictures we took of the city and breakwater that protects the harbor.
Once again as we sailed away from Hilo, whales were spotted off the back of the ship and they put on quite a show. Everytime one was spotted the crowd would cheer, making for a very fun, festive atmosphere.
Next up: Island of Oahu and Honolulu