Our Hawaiian Adventure

We share some of our photos with you from Hawaii.

Hawaii, Valley of the King

Arrival

We flew from Seattle to Kona, Hawaii, for a 6 day vacation. Kona is on the dry side of the big island. The airport is just a set of outdoor huts. It was a much-needed time away from work, stress and worry.

The Hotel

We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa. An extravagant hotel that was so large, there were trams and boats to get from one side of the hotel to the other. There was a lagoon and an ocean salt-water inlet where you could snorkel. There were palm trees and perfect places to sit and watch the sun set.

They also had their own dolphins. We saw that the dolphins were treated with respect and that their handlers loved them. They enjoyed interacting with people. But no, they were not allowed to go out into the ocean. Much like animals at a zoo, these animals serve as representatives of their species. We watched people become marine lovers and dolphin advocates. These dolphins serve as educators of the public. 

Volcano National Park

Hawaii is a unique and wondrous geological place. One of the only places on the planet where there is an active volcano! An ever-changing landscape. In years gone by, one could see actual flowing orange-hot lava, trickling into the ocean. This was not the case when we were there. But we did see the vent that had opened up in 2008 and has been glowing orange at night ever since. Lava flows in the vent but toxic fumes prevent people from getting too close, so an observatory had been built from a distance, Jagger Museum. The glowing looked pinkish in color to me.

A lava tube in Volcano NP, the rainforest outside.

The Water

Speaking of color, the ocean is turquoise near the shore in Hawaii, similar to the Caribbean. 

Water naturally has a blue tint because of the wavelengths that can be absorbed, but I still don’t understand why tropical waters appear more turquoise than elsewhere. I suspect it has something to do with depth, reflection and clarity, and white sand. Even where there was black sand, the water was turquoise. A brief Google search gave unsatisfactory results on the topic. Here, we capture waves crashing on Laupahoehoe Point.

I kept having to clean my lens from salt water. 

This one got me.

Two Sides of the Big Island

We stayed on the dry side (west side) of the island, the side known for better sun and beaches. The lava flows are newer and the soil is not ready for plant life yet. 

However, we have no problem with rain (see previous blog about Olympic National Park!) and no need to lie in the sun. As we crested the pass between the dry side to the wet side, there was a surprisingly noticeable change:

The lush rain forest and volcanoes were on the wet side (east side) and so it seems, in hindsight, that Hilo may have been a more appropriate choice for us tourists wanting to return with photography instead of a sunburn. 

Some of the foliage seemed alien. This large tree put down more roots/vines after it had grown, making it look extra grounded and a little spooky!

 In front of the Lava Tube entrance. 

While we were there, it rained and was windy and sunny on both sides of the island. It was definitely colder at high altitudes in Volcano National Park, however. Kona also offered tours and opportunities for snorkeling and swimming with marine life. So it depends what you are looking for.

The dry side had these huge canopy trees. It didn't look like this tree could hold all of itself up.

Zach’s Underwater Photography

We went snorkeling (thanks to Ash and Steve for letting us borrow their equipment!). There were several sea turtles in the lagoon that seemed unbothered by humans. People watched them, respectfully. Although, the turtles don’t seem to abide by the same rules! I was swimming forward and this four foot brown mass appeared in the murky water in front of me, I screamed through my snorkel and was up on the shore before I realized that it was a turtle. Here, I share some of Zach’s beautiful underwater photography.

We also had the amazing opportunity to swim with manta rays, the barbless, peaceful, plankton-eating sort. Zach also took these photos, but they cannot do justice to the grace, enormous size and mystery of these creatures. They were approximately 6 feet wide and the body cavities looked to me like they could fit two human torsos inside (but of course, they don’t eat people). They would slowly swim up towards you and then do a back flip and show the inside of their mouths and their white underbellies. Their movement looked like slow wing flapping flight. The boat left at sunset and we watched them feed on plankton at night. 

Sunsets

Made ever more classic when palm trees are involved.

Departure

On the flight home, we flew over the Haliakala Crater on Maui.

Over the ocean (5 hours), we saw a lot of this:

 and this...

And this...

Then we recognized the Washington Coastline.

 And the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, close to our home.

Home again. Back to the moderate climate of Washington. Less humidity, less sun, lower temperatures. No tropical plants, turquoise oceans or reefs to snorkel. It was fascinating to learn about the Hawaiian culture and geology. To feel part of the ancient chain of people who crossed the ocean to visit this strange world. The language is beautiful; the dancing is unique and magical. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. We’re glad we went. Next time, a different island, a different adventure.

But for now, our home in the Pacific Northwest feels just fine.