Lowes Travels

In my previous post (click here if you missed it), I mentioned that the Big Island’s major attraction is the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the eastern side of the island. In order to explore and enjoy it without rushing we decided to spend a night in the town of Volcano, only 6 miles south of the park.

Our Airbnb was at a farm with a “pond view”, where we watched and listened to chickens, ducks, goats, dogs and a feral pig as our entertainment. It was an interesting evening:

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Many of the best things to do within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park are concentrated around the Kīlauea Caldera, where we spent most of our time. There are several trails to follow, and we walked Crater Rim Trail which gave us several perspectives of the Kilauea Caldera and the Halema’uma’u crater. We were amazed to learn that it was expected to erupt within the next few days!

Some birds, flowers and a lizard added color along Crater Rim Trail:

We were initially upset that we’d missed seeing the Episode 41 Eruption in the park. But then we heard news that it was spewing ash and tephra (lava fragments), damaging roads and cars within a several-mile radius. The park was closed for a day, and we would have had an ugly car rental bill if we’d been there. Then Episode 42 happened, with another one expected in March. That’s how active this volcano is, and the activity is what makes the park a popular place to visit.

Our 38-mile round trip drive from the island’s summit to the sea on the Chain of Craters Road was an amazing scenic adventure. We saw many miles of lava fields created by eruptions that have occurred over the past 50 years. It was a dramatic timeline displaying lush rainforests at the summit down to barren lava-covered land at the ocean.

We descended 3,700′ to the coast where a lava flow occurred in 2003, and once we were parked it was a short walk to see the Holei Sea Arch:

Helicopter Tour

While in the park we heard helicopters buzzing above, and that was it for Steve. Luckily we were able to book an early flight the next morning. We chose the one that focused on the volcanoes and the Kīlauea Caldera down to the coast. This way we had another perspective of the volcanic landscape from above.

Would you like to take a quick flight with us as our helicopter lifted off from Hilo? Click below!

During the flight we learned that Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world at 33,500′, if measured from its base on the ocean floor. Much taller than Mount Everest at “only” 29,000′!

Back to Kailua-Kona

There’s plenty of fun stuff to do in Kailua-Kona, where we were based on the southwest side of the island. Near our Airbnb was a mix of historic, marine and adventure activities. We just had to choose what we wanted to enjoy during the week we had.

Kona Coffee

We love coffee, so visiting a Kona coffee farm for a tour was a no-brainer. Kona coffee grows only on the western slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa on the Kona side. This narrow Kona coffee belt offers the perfect climate and volcanic soil needed for the world-class beans:

We enjoyed an excellent tour at Bay View Farm, and got in-depth knowledge of the coffee making process. We were guided through the fields to learn the unique Kona climate and volcanic soil that contribute to the coffee’s distinct flavor. It was very educational and personalized since it was only Steve and I who took this tour. After that we had a taste of the freshly brewed and maybe most expensive coffee in the world!

We learned that dark roast coffee actually has less caffeine than medium roast, which surprised us:

Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park 

 

While there, these colorful little birdies were happy to see us 🙂 and will always get a photo op from me.

Southernmost Point

We thought we’d been to the southernmost point of the USA when we posed at a sign in Key West, Florida in 2014. Well, that’s true on the mainland, but technically Ka Lae on the Big Island is the southernmost point of the entire 50 U.S. states. And it is much more scenic, quiet, lush and green. How about that!

Manta Ray Night Snorkel

This was a unique adventure offered only on the Big Island that we had to check out. It’s a night-time activity where people hold onto an illuminated raft while snorkeling. The guides attach bright lights to the bottom of the raft to attract microscopic plankton that the Mantra Rays go for. They then come up under the raft and do incredible rolls inches from your face as they feed on the plankton. Absolutely amazing!

We were initially skeptical about snorkeling in the ocean at night, but I relaxed when I realized we wouldn’t have to swim very far. Steve is a certified deep sea diver, but he’s never gone out at night either. It turned out to be a fun and exhilarating experience! Check out the short video clip below – the hands you see the manta ray touch are Steve’s, and one of the squealing snorkelers you hear is me. The guides know all of the manta rays in the area and call that particular one Amanda. Along with a couple of others, she performed her acrobatics several times to our delight, Wow!

What we ate and drank

We love a traditional Hawaiian dish, the poke bowl. It usually consists of raw fish seasoned with seaweed and other ingredients that bring a burst of flavor in every bite. Since we were at the ocean, all forms of fish dishes were our main meals – grilled, seared, or in sushi form. And those tropical fruits and drinks? They’re not just thirst-quenchers; they are refreshing with their vibrant colors and fresh, juicy flavors. Here is a sample of what we stuffed ourselves with:

We had a grand time on the Big Island. In just a week we experienced what it’s known for – diverse landscapes and natural beauty. It’s busy and crowded in the tourist areas, but because it’s so big we were able to explore many beaches, lush rainforests and breathtaking volcanic parks without being overwhelmed by throngs of people. We didn’t feel rushed and enjoyed the tranquility of the serene surroundings.

Aloha for now, our next adventure is coming up soon 🙂