Hawaii

Feb 22-25
UA658 IAH-LAX, UA1224 LAX-HNL, Feb 23 HA208 HNL-KOA, Feb 25 HA331 ITO-HNL, UA252 HNL-IAH

We have always had a soft spot for Hawaii and will jump at every opportunity to spend time there. This trip was built around some travel to and from Toronto and Houston, but this time we actually spent some time together in Hawaii. We traveled separately, but met in Honolulu and stayed there for our first night before flying to the Big island and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Feb 22

After arriving in Honolulu, we made our way to Waikiki and took a walk along the beach to explore some of our favourite spots.

Statue of Queen Kapi’olani, in the Waikiki park that bears her name

Looking forward towards Diamond Head, up Waikiki beach

The line of beach front hotels

Looking at the other tower of the Hyatt Regency, our favourite Waikiki hotel

After a long day of travel, we enjoyed some drinks and snacks in the hotel before getting some rest. With the number of foreign visitors in Hawaii from Asia, COVID-19 was on my mind and although we weren’t taking strong precautions, it was the first time I recall being conscious of the risks.

Feb 23

After breakfast, we made our way back to the airport and caught our flight to Kona. After picking up the car, we headed to the resort on the Kona coast at Keauhou.

One of the many tour boats for the local stingray population

Exploring the volcanic rock beach around the resort

Checking out the local sealife

More of the resort property

Looking up into the surrounding mountains

The cactus align with being on the sunny dry side of the Big Island

Resort wedding chappel

More of the rugged coastline

To end the day, we had a nice seafood dinner at a restaurant over the water, with the stingrays swimming below.

Feb 24

After breakfast, we headed across the island over Saddle Road to Volcano National Park, which was the main reason for our visit to the Big Island. This was our first time visiting with Mauna Loa not actively venting lava, but there had been a lot of new volcanic activity since our last visit to the park, and we were looking forward to seeing the changes.

Surveying the resort grounds before we leave for volcano

Looking back as we climb from the coast

Looking at Mauna Loa peak from Saddle Road

Our first view of Kilauea from the National Park Visitor Center

Active steam vents

More steam vents on the trail near the visitor center

Broader view of Kilauea

A reminder that this is a very dynamic place

More active portion of the crater venting has closed a good portion of the trails

We’ve made our way down through the park to the coastline, where there are natural stone arches being beaten by the surf

Up close with a newer pahoehoe lava flow

New path over the more recent lava flows

The shifts creates cracks in the lava as it cools and solidifies

New growth in the lava of an 'Ohi'a lehua flower

Making our way back along Chain of Craters road

The Maunaulu Lava Shield

Hazy afternoon adds to the ambiance

The last of our craters on Chain of Craters Road before heading to Hilo

After a day of driving and exploring the National Park, we were ready to check-in to our hotel in Hilo for the evening. We had a nice dinner at the resort before grabbing some sleep.

Feb 25

Staying on the Hilo side of the island, we still took some time get back to Volcano, before focusing our time on the east coast of the island. We were able to explore the eastern lava flows that had impacted the area since our last visit.

Looking up the coast on Hilo Harbor from our hotel grounds

Back at Kilauea by the visitor center

The volcano observatory on the opposite side of the crater that was closed do to venting fumes

Thurston Lava Tube

More views of Kilauea from the visitor center

Touring some the historic equipment near the visitor center

Historic Sears Catalog providing supplies for the workshop

Walking the road that we used to drive around the crater, closed from the 2018 eruption

A reminder of the impact of the eruption

Looking up at the more quiet Mauna Loa

Keanakoko’i Crater

Further perspective on the disruption to Crater Rim Road

Looking at the more recent flows closer to Pahoa nearer to Hilo

The massive flow requires the road to make a hard turn

Exploring the fresh lava

Inspecting the lava rock, quite light as it is foamed with air, but brittle and sharp as broken glass

Great perspective on the full scope of the flow

Climbing on the flow

New road cut through the flow

We continued our journey back towards Hilo to catch our flight back to Honolulu and for overnight flights back to Houston and Toronto.