Volcano Visit

In September, Linda and I took a little trip to the big Island of Hawaii. We flew to Kona and spent a couple of days there. The island is very different from Oahu. It has a peak that is about 10,000 feet, live volcanoes, and pretty beaches. We were able to drive out to Volcano National Park.

















We got to the ranger station and Linda was talking with the ranger who stated he was taking a hike out into the restricted area on the volcano floor. He asked her if we would like to join him. We didn't even hesitate to say yes. Then we looked down at our feet and realized we were in flip flops. We looked at the ranger and he said he didn't care if we didn't. So off we went on the hike. It turned out to be about a 4-5 mile hike but well worth it.




















We were standing right on the volcano floor and could feel the steam coming up through the cracks in the lava. The active cone was about 150 yards away and they wouldn't let us get much closer than that.




























We also got to see some very interesting plants that grow on the volcano floor and as they decompose, they start to form the new layer of soil that will become the ground as the volcano cools underneath. It was very interesting.

We also saw Pele's hair which were thin little glass pieces (lava that cooled) that form in the cracks.














Also of interest was the plants that are not native to Hawaii but which are taking over. They would be imported many, many years ago by someone wanting the plant in their yard and then it started to reproduce. Without any enemies in nature, the plants start taking over the forest.











It was also a bit of a rainy day sprinkling here and there throughout the hike but nothing really bad until we were almost at the end of the hike when it started really raining. By the time we got back, we were drenched. Not being used to the elevation of the island, we also were getting really cold. When we got in the car, it showed that it was 59 degrees and we were soaked so we cranked up the heater so we could warm up.

We left the park and started the drive back to Kona. On the way, we dropped down to the Black Beach. It was 72 degrees there so we were warm again. All the sand on the beach was black as it was formed from lava rocks. It was really interesting.















On Saturday morning before heading back to the airport, we drove up to the Kona Temple. It turned out it was fairly close to where we were staying. It is a beautiful temple.

 Of interest this month, you can see that Brandon is really maturing.  We will be buying razors for him soon so that he can take care of that goatee!!!