Hawaii Island, also known as the 'Big Island', has been a lovely and wonderful place to start off our lives together. Our first visit to this island, was the beginning journey of our nearly 3-month honeymoon! We loved it. We spent our days exploring this exotic land by car, trail runs, hikes, swimming, and even jumping off a 35 ft cliff into crystal blue waters!
When we first arrived into Volcano, we turned off the main road and followed a dirt road that lead into the thick green fern forest that surround Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Apapane Lodge where we would be staying for a little over a week, is located within Volcano Village, a quiet small village tucked up in the cool, dark, and damp parts of Hawaii. The temperatures drop into the low 50s at night, requiring blankets, warm clothes, hot cocoa and playing games or reading by the fireplace. Little did we know that when we came to Apapne Lodge the first time, that in about 3 months time, we would be calling this place home!
Take a look into the wonderful world of Volcano, Hawaii.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a geological wonder located just a mile up the road from Volcano Village. It is one of nature's more interesting playgrounds. Lava tubes, tunnels, steam vents, craters you can walk down into and along the rolling crater floor, sulfur pits, sink holes, and lava! The lava looks like it is only steam during the day, but scroll down and you can see what that caldera looks like at night standing at the viewing deck at Jaggar Museum about half a mile away. First, a stroll through Thurston Lava Tube.
The Hilo side of the island is known for it's rocky shores, black sand beaches, and tide pools. After taking these next couple photos we met two brothers who had just been out spending the morning together spear fishing. We talked story for a little bit and they directed us towards a swimming hole down the road. The directions went something like this, "Keep going until the road starts to wind and dip, then when you enter the mango grove park and walk down the first dirt road you come to." This is exactly what we did!
Just the word "Hawaii" brings many images to mind: sunsets, palm trees, soft inviting beaches, lush mountains, ukuleles, hula dances, and luaus to name a few. A couple of our favorite things about this island is the unbeatable star-gazing on the top of Mauna Kea and Ka Lae. Ka Lae, or South Point, is the southern most part of the United States. Here is what the true southern tip of the U.S.A. looks like. It was rumored to have some cliffs to jump off of, and so naturally Nic had to check it out. Katie took a little more coaxing to the edge, but she did it! Nic jumped off so many times, we lost track. Katie took the rickety rusty ladder back to the top, but Nic ventured up the "rock wall less traveled." As soon as he would reach the top, he would turn around and plunge back into the deep blue below. We met some other folks our age that had been there before and they told Nic that if he jumped through the hole in the ground it would come out the other side! So, yes... Nic jumped down into that too! They were right, as it opens up to an enormous cave and arch leading out to the ocean.
Shave Ice recharge before an ice pond recharge! On the Kona side, we searched out the "Queens Bath" and took a dip. It was c-c-c-old, but was fun to swim under the tunnels and see the crystal clear fresh water. The Kona side is very dry and desert-like. It is the warmer side of the island, just like every island has a dry side and a wet side. Kona has a more significant amount of sunny days compared to the Hilo side, but the Hilo side also has all the ranches, rainforests, and flower farms. After our day in Kona, we made our way up to Mauna Kea to see some stars. It was interesting to take off our swim suits and put on jeans, socks, shoes, long sleeves, sweatshirts, jackets, and beanies!
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