Lava Tubes of the Big Island...

I've visited the big island a couple times recently, including some caves each time.  The first set of pictures is from Kaumana Caves.  These, however, are no normal caves: they are lava tubes!  The top of the underground tube (where lava used to flow in) collapsed resulting in two caves extending in opposite directions.  There's no light in the tubes so I only have pictures of the beginning of each cave where natural light exists.  Not to worry though, I did visit another lava tube in Volcanos National Forest that is set up for tourist.  Those pictures are towards the bottom of this blog.

The yellow stairs were the only man-made assistance you received along the journey.  I started by turning left at the bottom of the stairs.  There was a large area where volcanic rocks that had fallen from the ceiling.  Often you could match the huge rocks to the ceiling above like a puzzle piece.  At the very end of the collapsed area was a small hole.  I was able to duck through it.  To my surprise it opened to a pristine lava tube.  I was fascinating by the amount of color in the volcanic rock, both on the walls and the ceiling.  I walked along it for a few minutes but the long tube/cave just kept going.  After following that route for a while I eventually turned around and went to the other one.  Same thing there: there was a tiny hole at the end that allowed you to crawl through to get to another pristine lava tube.

I was doing this hike with my friend Sarah.  Upon entering the cave she set a strict rule that I was not allowed to jump out at her in the dark.  Apparently, she knows me well, and realized that this was exactly what was on my mind.  Not that her rule deterred me in any fashion.  After a few minutes I hiked ahead and found the first big rock to hide behind.  A few minutes later she passed by with only a tiny flashlight in the pitch black tunnel.  Screams of terror followed by kicking and hitting ensued the frightful moment.  Later there was even a sworn statement that we were longer be friends...she has since forgiven me...I think?  Doesn't matter though: it was worth it!

Here is a view from being inside the cave and looking toward the collapsed area that leads out.

Now starts the pictures from Volcanos National Park.  It is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Volcanos National Park is such a wonderful place.  You'll be seeing more from Volcanos on my blog in future posts since I just got back from backpacking around the park for 5 days.

The park has a lava tube situated in the middle of the a rain forest.  It is set up with bridges and lighting throughout for an easier tourist experience.  While I prefer things more off the beaten path, it was actually a really great short loop trail with the lava tube, named Thurston Lava Tube, in the middle.  As you walked towards the lava tube you heard a symphony of singing birds who were flying around the rain forest portion.

Lave tube entrance. 

Mahalo for visiting.  A hui hou.

Rainbow Falls...

Rainbow Falls has all the qualities of a quintessential waterfall: an 80 foot free fall, pool at the bottom, wide cliff up top, foliage all around the gorge to hide it, and a natural cave behind the falls were a god lives.  Yup, a god!

Legend states that Hina, a Hawaiian goddess associated with the moon, lived in the cave behind Rainbow Falls.  She was young, smart and attractive, and was often sought out by men of many different cultures.  Legend states she became annoyed of the constant crowds of suiters, and she fled to the moon.  ...So I guess she doesn't really live there anymore.

Rainbow Falls looks remote in the pictures, but it's anything but remote in real life.  The town of Hilo, one of the two largest towns on the island of Hawai'i, is literally all around it.  It reminds me  of visiting the Alamo in San Antonio with my sister Katie.  Kate and I were convinced we were lost since there were buildings all around us.  We thought the Alamo would be somewhere in country-Texas.  Suddenly we turned the corner and there it was: smack dab in the middle of the city surrounded by tall buildings.  Rainbow Falls had the same feeling, but it was beautiful none-the-less!

After checking out the waterfall it was time to go visit some actual lava caves.  Unfortunately, I wasn't quite sure where I placed the keys to the rental car.  Then I remembered I had gone back to the car to get a camera filter from my backpack.  Ut-oh...  I found the keys: in the locked car right next to my backpack which can be seen in the picture on the left.  Oops!

We then debated out options of how exactly to resolve the current situation.  The car had one of those keypad entries so I figured I would try it before calling a locksmith.  I doubted it would work on a rental car, and also doubted the rental company took the time to programed it.  Fortunately, for us, the company DID know what the code was and quickly gave it to me over the phone.  While I was elated to be back in the car quickly and cheaply (versus waiting/paying for a locksmith), it left me a little worried that the company just gave me the code to the car over the phone without verifying I was the correct person, but this was not a time to tell them that maybe their security should be a little more stringent.

Testing the numbers...

Thank you door entry key pads!  

So we were back in the car and headed towards the next adventure: Lava caves!

Mahalo for visiting like always.

Punalu'u Sea Turtles...

I always love sea turtles.  I found a few hanging out on Punalu'u's black sand beach.  It's rare for them to hang out on the shore for the purpose of just resting, and they are only known to regularly do this in a few beaches around the world.  I've been blessed to see them a few times since one spot they frequent is on Oahu, but I was lucky this day that they also happened to be chillin' on the black sand beach.

The gentle giants didn't seem to have a care in the world.

The little guy on the right seems to be camera shy as he (or she?) hides behind the flipper of the adult.

Saw this fella come right out of the water.

He was keeping his eye on me as he decided where he'd like to go.  I kept my distance.

For how graceful they are in the water, they are the exact opposite on land.  ...Pre-push...

...post push.

Yawn.

Mahalo for visiting.  Much Aloha to you.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach...

The Big Island (Hawai'i Island) has several different types of sand.  It's most famous for a couple of high quality black sand beaches.  In order for black sand to develop there needs to be the sea and volcanic rock, so the islands of Hawai'i are perfect.  Obviously, the black sand is created by erosion of the black volcanic rock where lava has previously run into the Pacific Ocean.  The Punalu'u County Beach Park is always ranked as the number 1 black sand beach in the world and that's where I am for this post.  Enjoy the pictures...

The black sand beach was a lot bigger until active lava flowed down to the beach area a few years ago.  The recent lava rock is pictured above.

The black sand was very fine and not nearly as not to walk on as one might think.

There was a creek that flowed into the river at the Punalu'u Beach Park.

When the pool at the end of the creek where it meets the black sand dunes.

Just a post on a bridge that caught my eye.

Mahalo for visiting!  See you again soon.

Akaka Falls State Park...

Akaka Falls is a long free fall water fall on the island on Hawai'i.  Akaka Falls has a 442 foot vertical drop.  There's a great, short nature loop that goes around the gorge where the falls are located.

Not too much else to say other than that.  Mahalo for visiting and enjoy the pictures!

Here's a short 20 foot cascading waterfall hiding in the jungle.