Hawaii - the Big Island

We arrived in Honolulu Saturday afternoon to take on fuel and everyone was ecstatic to be back in the US, although it's not really like the US.  Cell phones and cameras came out and everyone was talking and laughing.  We didn't know how anxious we would be to return and at the same time regret that the trip is coming to an end.  Talked to Kylie and Peta, Kylie called back - just because she could! - and I talked to Lil which was great.  She is feeling great and has recovered from her surgery.  Tried John, couldn't leave a message and left a message with Marlene.


We left Honolulu  and sailed to Hilo on the Big Island. arriving about 7 am Sunday morning.  We have arrived in 5 ports on Sunday morning!  I don't know if it's cheaper to dock on Sundays, or if it's because you can't buy booze on Sundays.  In either case, the towns are usually closed down, except for restaurants and churches.  We caught the Hertz shuttle and picked up an electric blue Mustang convertible, which Rick loved to drive around all the curves and up and down the mountains.  We drove over to Kona, on the western coast where we stayed in 2009, did some shopping and watched the tourists get off a huge cruise ship, ferried in on tenders. The downtown street was closed for an art show so we missed all the crazy little shops and restaurants.  Then we drove to the Hilton Resort (also has a Marriott now) that has a little shopping center and had lunch, parked near the beach and had a snooze!  Then we drove back to Hilo on Highway 190 where the Parker Ranch is located, and drove in fog and rain, until Rt. 19 where it immediately cleared up.  Had dinner at Pesto restaurant in downtown Hilo which was very good and stayed on the ship over night.

On Monday, we drove to the volcano, Kilauea and this time it was a bright, clear day and we saw the caldera with the crater and steam rolling out of it.  The rim of the caldera had steam pockets everywhere and even in the fields where we were standing.  The caldera fell 400 feet after the last eruption, March 7, 2011 and a huge mass of magma lies under the caldera, with some lava escaping at the eastern foot of the volcano  through tunnels which relieve the pressure on the main mass.  The viewing platform at the end of Rt. 130 was carried away by lava this past year.  Ken Hon, the "Geography Minute" professor on board and his wife Cheryl gave an excellent lecture on the volcano and showed a film they had filmed of the volcano.  They live on Hawaii, are volcanologists as well and Ken's voice is on the film shown at the Visitors Center.  The lava flow stopped about a month ago from the eruption which happened while we were away, much to the dismay of Ken and Cheryl.  So we did not see any red lava flowing.

We then drove the Road of Craters, saw several large craters and enjoyed the drive through ferns and pine trees and wild scrub.  Ran into bus load of FDP trippers from the ship at the lava pipes.  We left the Park, drove to the Orchid Shop and saw some of the most beautiful orchids in the world - one worth $25,000.  I was very tempted to stow one away in my luggage, but because we haven't gone through customs yet, we cannot take anything live on board, including food!  Although we went through immigation in Honolulu, we don't go through customs until San Diego.  We drove around Hilo, stopped at Richardson's Park and watched surf and swimmers, then Rick dropped me at ship and he returned the electric blue Mustang, as he must, back to Hertz.  Had a barbeque dinner, everyone on board by dock time and we sailed under a full moon at 8 pm.  Had to set clocks ahead 1 hour and will have to do that 3 more times before San Diego.  Talked to Brenda, having brunch with them Easter Sunday in La Jolla!  Cool!  Life is good.