Hawaii Jan 6, 2023 - Day 3

 Aloha!

Yesterday was quite a busy and long day with over 27,000 steps for AA and Lola (each!).  We started the day with an excellent breakfast at the resort.  Then, we packed our bags and a lunch and loaded the car for our day trip.

AA - aka "the pack mule"

First stop - Waikoloa Village, where AA and Lola first experienced the Big Island during a tsunami warning on their honeymoon in 2010.  Things looked a little different at the village market and moods were definitely different, this time the duo had a rental car and could go anywhere and do anything they wanted.

Waikoloa Village Market

Then, it was just over an hour long drive to Hilo and Rainbow Falls.  Both AA and Lola forgot what Rainbow Falls was like - "a very accessible walk to the views of the waterfall".  

Somewhere along Saddle Road

Descending into Hilo

Rainbow Falls

Next up was a 45 mins drive to the Black Sand at Punalu'u Beach.  Black sand is very interesting - not what you traditionally think of when you think "sand".  The sand feels more coarse than typical sand but perhaps that is just thinking that it is "different".  Lunch on the beach was great and then we took in the sights at the beach park.

Black Sand Beach

After stretching our legs for a little bit, it was time to go to Volcano National Park and see what the volcano was doing today.  The park wasn't too busy when we first arrived (at 2pm) so it was pretty easy to find parking and start a couple hikes around the crater rim.  On our first hike, we were able to see the lava lake that started erupting the day before - it was incredible to see lava shooting up who knows how many feet.

Overlooking the crater

The ol' "BC Trick" - taking a photo through binoculars

We made our return hike back along the steam vents and sulphur banks.  We weren't sure if there was more steam than usual or if it was just different seeing the steam in sunny conditions (we seem to be at the park when it is rainy and overcast). 

LAVA!

Howdy from the Suphur Banks

Once back at the car, we ate some bananas and walked around Volcano House a little bit before our dinner reservation.  Dinner was awesome with an amazing view overlooking the Kilauea crater and the sunset.

The view from Volcano House

After dinner, we decided to go and see the lava tubes which we haven't seen since our trip in 2013.  The tubes were not what we remembered, but perhaps the tubes that we saw previously are no longer open due to recent volcanic activity in 2018, 2020 and now 2022/2023.  It was also different not using $3 flashlights from Walmart - DD and I still cannot understand why the girls were so worried about the quality of the two flashlights and 4 D batteries that we got for $3...

Descending into the lava tubes - much brighter than actual

Then, it was time for the grand finale - to see the lava lake in its full splender at night.  We had to park about a mile (or two) away from the view points but the extra miles on the feet was worth it.  The view of the lava in the dark was like nothing we had ever seen before.

After taking a ton of pictures and the hike back to the car, it was time to make the 2hrs drive back to the hotel to rest our tired legs and feet for another day of fun in the sun.

AA