There are a lot of pictures tonight and I don't feel super wordy (it's getting late), so I will narrate as I go tonight.
When we first got here, at the airport, Breyton smelling the flowers (just putting his nose up to them :)
More from the black sand beach.
The view from our current condo.
Yesterday visiting the other black sand beach.
Visiting the tsunami site.
Walking down to Kahaka Falls.
Follow the "leader"
Rainbow falls.
Gecko posing for photos.
Another black sand beach. Turtle sunbathing on the sand. We look 15 feet away, right :)
Visiting the volcano. This is from the museum at the top. Behind us is a vent in the cauldera (the top of the volcano).
Here's a view of the inside of the cauldera.
Up close view of the active vent.
The sea arch at the coast.
This is for Lindsay who loves jumping pictures.
Sitting at the edge of an old lava flow over a road.
Great sunset.
We hiked down here to see the active lava flow. It took most of the day to get to this side of the island and the volcano. From the museum up top of the volcano, we had to go out and around Hilo to the other side to get to this point. This part is only open from 5-10pm to see the lava. The steam is from the lava flowing into the ocean. The viewing spot is on this side right now due to the winds blowing it the other direction. The steam contains hydrochloric acid. The smoke from the vent up top contained sulfur dioxide so there was one road closed up there because the wind was blowing the smoke over it and it's dangerous to your health. The lava was flowing down the mountain through lava tubes so you couldn't actually see it coming down the mountain but you could see it come out the end into the water. When a wave would hit it, there would be a huge explosion! The black sand is caused by the lava flowing into the water. There is also a green sand beach on the island that we didn't get a chance to visit.
After sunset
Here's to give a good idea of how close we were. In the binoculars you could see really well up close!
Today, Breyton found the Desitin and put it on like "lotion."
Our sunset cruise boat.
Went out to Captain Cook's monument.
On our sunset cruise we saw spinner dolphins. As soon as the spotted the boat they swam next to us jumping and spinning through the air! We have a video of it but I can't shrink it right now to put on here. It was really cool to see! We had a great date-night out.
November 8, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Jenn, I love your myriad of pictures. It makes me think I am there. Actually, I got a massage the other day to help with my back pain (it worked!) and I laid there thinking of Joe and I and Micah playing on the beach in Hawaii; it was very relaxing. I just made egg strata and cleaned up a bit after spending the morning with Micah. Her Oxygen saturation is still high, then low, then...well all over and her breathing needs to progress, but she seems to be tolerating 3 cc/hour of milk. Yay! I am so thankful for your blog and that you updated it EVEN while on vacation. I like to think it was your way of connecting with me and showing Micah that you love her and her mumsy! I loved the picture of "Micah" in the sand...could you print it and send it my way? I wish I could see you soon, but I know we'll come to visit sometime in the spring. I am SO glad that you finally got your vacation to Hawaii and that you are having such a fabulous time! I am impressed with how Breyton did...I've always pictured Joe and I leaving our kids with Grandpa and Grandpa and going somewhere tropical or to Europe...but now, how could we leave her!? Well, love you!