Sometime in March or April my friend, McNair Rivers, contacted me and said that she and her family were coming to Hawaii. We met in tech school in 2006 and have been great friends since. Her brother, Charles, was coming out to compete in a 70.3 mile Ironman triathalon. Plans were made, reservations were booked, planes tickets were purchased....
Thursday, June 2 - I finished up with class, rushed home to pack up, Sarah brought me to the airport for my first inter-island flight. After a whopping 34 minutes in the air, McNair picked me up at the Kona airport. Following the advice of the Garmin, we decided to take Saddle Road. We found out later how "adventurous" we were for taking that route at night. There were some roller coaster hills, unpaved areas, and rain. Towards the beginning of the trip, we were both starving and could see on the map that there was nothing along Saddle Road, so we decided on a quick detour to Waikoloa. We made it to Subway right as they were putting everything up. (8:57, I believe.)
The nice lady making my sandwich: "What kind of bread would you like?"
Me: "Whatever is easiest for you." *so you don't spit in our food when we look down to grab our money*
Three hours later, after tons of catching up, we pulled into a nice little B&B called At The End of the Road. Crashed.
Friday, June 3 - Breakfast at 7:30 with a nice Korean couple and Lani, the owner of the B&B. After some advice on places to see at the volcano, we were off. We watched a short film at the visitor center, then drove up Crater Rim Drive to see Jaggar Museum and the crater. Apparently, the sulfur smell is usually stronger, and a decreased sulfur smell means that pressure is building. Pele is contemplating her next move...
A couple views of the crater:
Once we walked through the museum, we decided to go all the way to the end of Chain of Craters Road. If there is one thing that I have learned in National Parks it is that the good stuff is usually at the end. If you go there first, you will pass all of the stops, so you can decide what you think is worthwhile, especially because you know the distance (and time) it will take to come back. Otherwise, too much time may be spent on the less spectacular parts of the park. Just my experience.
So, down to the end we went. To the sea arch, which was probably the best part of the park. Photos:
After being windblown and seasprayed, we decided to check out the Pu'u Loa petroglyphs. Just a short 1.4 mile round trip to a boardwalk in the middle of a lava field to see these carvings.
This park reminded me of the Grand Canyon in one way: I had a pure awareness of the micro and macro. You look all around and see vast lava flows. The two contrasting types of lava, the smooth Pahoehoe and the A'a, which the park brochure accurately described as clinkery.
The macro:
The micro:
While walking through the seemingly barren lava fields, you become aware that life does exist here. It is amazing to think that the native Hawaiians were able to survive in this environment by planting sweet potatoes, catching fish, eating birds, and capturing water in gourds from the ceilings of lava tubes. Challenging to say the least.
After the petroglyphs, we decided to go back up to the top, see the lava flow, then get lunch. The lava tube is an ascent of about 3,700 feet from the sea arch, and although much cooler, it is in the rainforest. One thing that blew McNair away, was the fact that we can drive less that 20 miles and feel like you are in a different world. Welcome to the islands. :)
Comparison of lava fields area to lava tube area:
The entrance to and inside the lava tube:
After exploring the park, we ate some tasty Thai food at a cute little restaurant in Volcano. We finished up about 1:30, gassed up the Mazda, and drove up to the beach house via Hilo, Waimea, to Puako. After a wonderful salmon dinner, a few glasses of wine, catching up with Charles, and getting to know the rest of the fam, it was bedtime. I am pretty sure we were all out by about 9:30.
Saturday, June 4 - 5:00 wake-up to be at the race site at 5:30. When we first pulled up, and walked by the bike transition area the energy was thick. Everyone trying to snap photos of their triathletes, getting numbers painted on, warming up, and applying lots of sunscreen. We decided to sit up on some rocks a little further away from the action. It turned out to be a pretty cool place to watch the start of the swim. Watching 1,800 people get into the water at 7:00 and take off is quite a spectacle.
Sunscreen and stretching, both important. :)
A proud mom and Grace.
After a 1.2 mile swim, Charles ran up to his bike and rode 56 miles. We were there for his transition from the bike and got some photos at the beginning of the run, he even had the energy for a smile:
After the 13.1 mile run, he ended up with a time of 4:32:16, which put him at 32nd overall, and 4th in his age group! This got him up on the podium. Go Charles!!
After the race, McNair and I were sunburned and hot. We jumped (more accurate: kneeled because it was shallow and rocky) in the ocean, her first time the water in Hawaii. Bummer you lost your shades, dude. Dinner was steak, courtesy of grillmaster Ed, and we hung out on the lanai for a few beers that night.
Sunday, June 5 - We were greeted with a few honus on the rocks and one on the beach in the morning. Then everyone went to the beach, and the water was so nice. Everyone was very careful to apply sunscreen to their burned parts. After a quick lunch we all split up and did our own things. McNair and Charles napped/talked, MJ and Grace went to the Heiau, Ed napped, and Louanne and I went to see petroglyphs and for a quick walk by the ocean.
After a quick stop at the store for poke, beer, and coffee, we went back to the house. Everyone enjoyed the poke (raw yellowfin tuna "ahi").
Dinner that night was at a nice little Mexican restaurant. We had reservations at 5:30, EARLY because I had a plane to catch. When they finally brought out our food at 6:40 I inhaled some of it, threw the rest in a to go box and woofed it down in the car on the way to the airport. I am sure it was delicious.
As an end note, I just want to say thank you to McNair, Charles, and the rest of the family for allowing me to share such a wonderful weekend. It was the best reason I could think of for my first outer-island excursion, and I am so glad we could enjoy the wonderful island of Hawai'i together.
To MJ: mahalo nui loa :)
A few bonus pics...photo credit: McNair Rivers
Can you see me? :)
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.
