Hawaii Big Island — Our Adventures

We travelled to the Big Island of Hawaii in August to make some upgrades to our Kona Condo and spend some time exploring the Big Island. The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and has a very diverse landscape that ranges from volcanic rock to rainforests to high grasslands (like you would see in Colorado).

A sunset picture from our condo at Hale Kona Kai in Kona.

The area north of Kona is covered with volcanic rock.

The contrast between the dark volcanic rock and the lush areas that have been developed is striking.

We hiked about 2000 feet up to the cinder cone named Pu'u Wa'awa'a.

Much of the trail was on steep grassy slopes.

Goats and sheep are common throughout the Big Island.

Rich on top of Pu'u Wa'awa'a.

We drove to the Hilo on the eastern side of the island and then to Volcanos National Park. Hilo is the wettest city in the United States receiving 150 inches of rain a year.

Orchids grow almost everywhere in Hawaii.

Staci booked two nights in a Airbnb treehouse near Volcanos National Park. This treehouse was recently built and is the middle of a rainforest.

Staci carrying our bags from the car to the treehouse.

The treehouse was built on a platform over the jungle. There were two tents that could be rented and a shared bathroom/kitchen area.

Cooking dinner above the jungle.

Every day was a mixture of rain and sun.

We headed to Volcanos National Park. Kilauea is one of five volcanos on the Big Island and is currently active.

Volcanos National Park has a beautiful set of trails that go through the rainforest to the lava fields. Rich is running down toward the lava field.

The rainforest abruptly ends and becomes a lava field.

Another view of Kilauea smoking.

From Volcanos National park we headed west toward the black sand beach at Punaluʻu.

Green Sea Turtles at Punaluʻu Beach.

Staci, Rich and our friend Dawn are running a marathon in September so we had to do a long run every week. Mana road near Waimea is a very long dirt road that has a cooler, dryer climate than Kona.

The landscape around Waimea looks a lot like Colorado with grasslands and ranches.

After completing one of our long runs.

We had dinner at the home of our friends John and June. They live in Captain Cook which was coffee plantations that are now subdivided into large lots. This is their amazing backyard.

Looking out over Kealakekua Bay where Captain Cook died.

The British built a monument to Captain Cook at Kealakekua Bay.

Kealakekua Bay is a very popular place to snorkel.

A picture of downtown Kona as the waves smash into the seawall. Once a month the main street through Kona closes for a large art festival.

Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the Hawaiian Islands at 13,800 feet. The trailhead where the Humuula trail begins is about an hour drive from Kona.

The beginning of the Humuula trail ascends a steep sandy slope for the first 2000 feet.

The next section of the trail cross large lava fields that have no life or vegetation.

Clouds below us looking east toward rainy Hilo.

The trail continues through the lava.

Rich stopping for lunch.

At 13,025 feet, Lake Waiau is one of the highest lakes in the United States. Scientists still don’t fully understand how this lake continues to exist. Lake Waiau is a sacred lake and has cultural and spiritual significance to many Hawaiians.