Kuhio Beach @ Waikiki
December 31, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 77 °F
We checked into our hostel around 3 pm and got a bite to eat and checked out nearby Kuhio Beach at Waikiki. Afterwards we went back for a brief nap to catch up on the jet lag, so we could ring in 2025Read more
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
Fireworks display from Waikiki.
Snorkeling @ Waikiki
January 1, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
On New Year's Day, Mark and I booked an 'Experience' on Airbnb and went snorkeling in Waikiki in the morning. There were lots of fish to be seen in the water. Unfortunately, the underwater photos cameRead more
Koko Crater Railway Hike
January 1, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
After snorkeling in the morning and getting a bite to eat for lunch, Mark and I did the Koko Crater Railway Hike. This is a hike on an abandoned tramway used during WW2. There are over 1000 stepsRead more
North Shore
January 2, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
I skipped the hike that Mark did in the morning due to not feeling well. In the afternoon, we drove to the North Shore of O'ahu and visited several popular beaches there, including the famous BonzaiRead more
Captain Cook Monument Trail
January 3, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
After flying to the Big Island of Hawaii, we hiked down to the Captain Cook Monument. He was the first documented European to visit the island in the 1700's. At the bottom of the trail, there is theRead more
Mauna Kea
January 3, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
After the Captain Cook hike, we traveled to the Mauna Kea visitor center, which is located at 9200 ft. The temperature dropped to below 50 degrees, while the temperature at the summit observatoriesRead more
Paradise Cliffs
January 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
After sleeping in a bit this morning, Mark and I took a drive down the road from our Airbnb to Paradise Cliffs. It's a nice place to watch the waves from the lava covered rock formations.
Rainbow Falls Lookout
January 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
We drove to near Hilo and visited the Rainbow Falls lookout. This waterfall is just off the road and there are some neat banyan trees nearby.
Akaka Falls State Park
January 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Akaka Falls is located further north of Hilo. It is located in a state park and the hike was approximately 30 minutes round trip. On the road to the park, there was a farm offering cow cuddlingRead more
Devastation Trail & Pu'uhua'i Lookout
January 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
After having lunch back at our Airbnb, we drove into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The first trail we did was a short one called Devastation Trail that showed the aftermath of the 1959 eruption.
Halema‘Uma‘U Crater lava flow
January 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 61 °F
After our hike on the Devastation Trail, we walked to see what there was going on at the active section of the Halema‘Uma‘U Crater eruption site. We got there shortly before sunset and had to waitRead more
Holei Sea Arch
January 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We started our second day in the National Park by driving down Crater Rim Road to the Holei Sea Arch. The drive took about 30 minutes from the park entrance and we drove through lava fields fromRead more
Thurston Lava Tube
January 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
The Thurston Lava Tube is located in the National Park and we stopped here on the way to our longer hike for the day. It is a short, illuminated lava tube.
Kiluea Iki Crater Hike
January 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
After visiting the Thurston Lava Tube, we hiked down into the crater of Kiluea Iki. It was approximately a 3.5-mile round trip hike going through a rainforest and into the crater. We had viewed thisRead more
Steam Vents
January 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
These are the steam vents from the volcano. You could smell the sulfur gas and it is said that the native Hawaiians come here to 'heal' themselves when they are sick.
Kaumana Cave
January 6, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
First we drove to the Kaumana Cave, which is another lava tube from a previous eruption of the famous Mauna Kea. This was was much bigger and longer than the one in the National Park. It was notRead more
Hilo Zoo
January 6, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
After walking around the Hilo Farmer's market and shopping area, we visited the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo. They had many exotic birds and even two tigers.
Black Sand Beaches
January 6, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
These are some pictures of some of the black sand beachs and lava rock formations along the eastern coast of Hawai'i. These are the best beaches to sunbathe on or swim, but they offer great views.
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
January 7, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
After checking out of our Airbnb to head towards Kona, we drove towards the southernmost point of the Big Island and stopped at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. This beach was more traditional in that youRead more
Kona International Airport
January 7, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
This was our view of the last sunset at a beach near the Kona International Airport. We had previously seen the sun rise on the eastern side of the island around 7:00 and got to see the sun set aroundRead more
