Hawaii- "The Big Island"
September 2016
Day 1 - Arrival and check-in
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| Flying in... there is the Big Island and Mauna Kea |
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| Look at how beautiful the water is! |
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| Touchdown in Kona! |
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| I brought some awesome beers to Hawaii |
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| This is the view from our private deck in Kona. Awesome! |
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| Of course I had to drink a beer |
Day 2 - Mauna Kea hike
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| On the way to Mauna Kea, this is the massive Mauna Loa, one of 2 volcanos that makes up the island. |
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| The trail up the volcano |
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| Getting Higher, nearing the top |
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| Avery and Anastasiya hiking up the steep, trail-less rocky slope |
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| On the summit of Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii, 13,600' |
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| On the summit |
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| On the way out, this is an old lava field |
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| On a little boat cruise that same evening |
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| Sunset over the waters outside Kona |
Day 3 - Chocolate Tour, Southernmost Point, Green Sand Beach, Coffee Farm
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| At the chocolate farm, before the tour |
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| Neat old Banyan tree |
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| Gecko |
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| Looking out to the ocean from the Kona coffee region |
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| The Southernmost point in the US - Hawaii |
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| It was just plain gorgeous out here |
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| The waves had a bit of drama too |
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| A green sand beach. Stunning |
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| Olivite minerals compose the green sand |
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| Kona coffee bush |
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| Kona coffee berries in the wash |
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| Flower at the coffee plantation |
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| I think this was an avocado tree? |
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| Peaceful evening back at the resort |
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| Sunset near the resort |
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| Kona brewing beer garden |
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| A wild cat hanging out with everyone |
Day 4- Waipi'o Valley, Akaka Falls, Botanical Garden, Hilo Zoo, Macadamia Nut Farm, Rainbow Falls, Sunset and Stargazing on Mauna Kea
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| Waipi'o Valley |
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| Wide angle Waipi'o |
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| Eucalyptus trees? |
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| Akaka Falls |
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| Akaka Falls |
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| We had lunch here at Kolekole Beach Park |
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| We went to the botanic gardens next |
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| Eating Zippys Malasadas in Hilo |
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| Free Zoo in Hilo |
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| Tigers are awesome |
Mauna Loa Macademia Nut farm
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| You'll go nuts here |
Rainbow Falls near Hilo
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| Falls near Hilo |
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| Typical terrain is breathtaking |
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| Sunset from Mauna Kea visitor's center |
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| Sunset from Mauna Kea |
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| Looking at Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea |
Day 5 - Black Sand Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes NP
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Black Sand |
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Punalu'u Black Sand Beach |
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| Wrinkled Lava |
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| Typical Scenery |
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| Getting Closer to the lava entry |
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| Not typically something you want to see |
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| Hot crossing |
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| Hot Crossing |
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| Lava Entry |
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| Silly Selfie |
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| Hot lava entry |
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| Lava Entry |
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| You can see the sulfur stains on the rock |
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| Also not something you want to see |
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| Palm trees growing from the lava flow area |
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| Trees growing right out of the lava flow |
Volcano House - Dinner on the edge of the crater
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| A combination of mist and volcanic smoke |
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| A cold beer afterwards |
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| Dessert |
Uekahuna - Kiluea Crater Overlook Google Maps Link
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| Lava Spraying out of the earth |
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