Mahalo Pele.

We were up early thanks to the time change and going to bed at 8:30 pm local time. After a good breakfast at the hotel we packed up the toys and found a great snorkel spot. The water was a beautiful aqua and the fish were abundant. Once we were adequately water logged we jumped in the car and headed further down the coast for more exploring. We found a wonderful little bay with black sand which we had all to ourselves. Scott headed in to explore the water and I checked out the lava caves on the coast. The Sheraton property was next on the list due to the rumors of manta rays. We did see one large one but after checking around we found out that the best viewing time was at night. However, this night had other adventures in store for us. We had a date with the Fire Goddess.

 

The island is called The Big Island for a reason. We drove around the Southern tip and over to Hilo on what turned out to be a 3 hour road trip. On the way we stopped at a lovely farmer's market where we were talked in to even more Mexican food. Chile verde served from the back of a van was on the menu this time and it was delicious! Scott set a vendor straight about Utah having no world championship skiers (Hello? Ted Ligety!) and we were back on our journey. Hilo was a short stop for provisions and then we headed South to Kalapana.

We reached our destination when the road ended at a bay now full of lava. The black desert of lava was sharp contrast to the lush green we had driven through for miles. After dodging countless hippies hitchhiking along the road, we met our guide at a "coffee shop". A large compound complete with bar, stage, and small wood buildings set into a tropical forest comprised the coffee shop and was where we met our guide Kyson. 

Us and 7 other couples were driven along the old highway which had in many places been swallowed by lava. We were dropped off and left in what seemed another world. Oozing, rippling lava had cooled and left ripples, braids, crevices and blobs that we hiked over and around. for hours. Some of the lava had been there for years, some as little as a few months and some was oozing fresh from the earth. Along the way we were rewarded with views of the ocean and even a rainbow. 

Suddenly the wind blew and the skies opened up just long enough to soak us to the skin. But the rainstorm was brief and so was the short hike over to the coast. Steam billowed up hundreds of feet into the air. Molten lava glowed as it waterfalled down into the ocean. Waves crashed into the fiery flows creating a spectacular show. After watching mesmerized for 45 minutes we hiked back in the dark. Hovering barely above the horizon in the North was the big dipper. The only sounds were our feet crunching on the lava. The terrain was void of any of the nature sounds that usually fill the Hawaiian skies. What an amazing night!