Travel

Lava Flow – to the Volcano we go!

~ tanlandia ~ Leave a comment

Lava flows. Nicks favorite drink when we are in Hawaii. I however mean it more in the literal sense, and our next stop was to Volcano National Park! It was quite the adventure to get there, a 3 hour trek by car (Jeep Wrangler, thanks Dollar Rental) with a few stops along the way to break up the drive.

First we went to Waipio Valley, which is absolutely breathtaking! I love the big cliff formations along the coast and we were all geared up to go for a hike down to the black sand beach, however this was closed due to Dengue fever, so stayed out of there, took a pic from the top, and were on our way!

DSCF0140

Next we stopped off to see Akaka Falls. There is a nice manicured footpath through what feels like the jungle to get to a nice viewing spot to see the falls. At 422 ft, it was quite impressive!

DSCF0154

We got caught in some rain so a bit misty in the pic!

DSCF0157

Volcano National Park. We made it! And I loved it! The park was huge ($15 to enter at the time), so the best way to get around is to drive throughout the park, stopping off at different points along the road of tour to learn and see more about the volcanoes and geology of the area. There are also hiking trails scattered throughout the park. You could really spend days there! See some pictures below!

 

At the Caldera, where this is still lava flowing as this is an ACTIVE VOLCANO. We live on the edge.

DSCF0166

Hiking through the lava rocks!

Nick photo shoot

Mere photo shoot

More shots of the park

DSCF0193

*mere*

Mauna Kea

~ tanlandia ~ Leave a comment

Aloha! Driving up along the Kohala coast, we made it to our hotel and were greeted with lei’s by the Mauna Kea staff. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is classic Hawaii. Being built in 1965 by Laurance S. Rockefeller (HI became a U.S. state in 1959), it was at the time the grandest, most exclusive, and expensive hotel in its day. It was fun to be there during its 50th year of being open, albeit with renovations, expansions, and rebuilding from an earthquake in 2006, it still resembles much of what it was on opening day.

DSCF0110

In the open aired lobby!

DSCF0124

Our room was spectacular. Sunset views of the beach with an endless ocean and palm trees wafting in the breeze. This feels like vacation. We have the obligatory drink of Champagne and our holiday was off to a fantastic start.

DSCF0133

Nick with some bubbly, vacation mode ON.

DSCF0136

 

Sunset from our room – unreal!

The beach at the Mauna Kea is what stands out most to me. A true white sand beach with corals to snorkel, but just around the edges of the coves. It was perfect for swimming, and I even got my “handstand” in the water done, which is always a must do for me, sadly, no picture to prove it. One day I even saw a sea turtle paddling along through the water, it was so neat!

 

 Beach pics! Isn’t it magical!

DSCF0131

Had to post this one of Nick – vacation has started! Aloha!

*mere*

 

Big Island, Big Adventure. Coffee first.

~ tanlandia ~ Leave a comment

We just arrived back from a fantastic 5 days on the island of Hawaii. Nick had been several times and surprised me with a visit for a “belated” Birthday celebration. I was always intrigued to visit the Big Island and the mystical places, mostly, the volcanoes!

As soon as we landed we were off. Instead of checking into our hotel, we went straight into Kona to take a visit to the coffee plantations. It was much needed and perfect stop off to start our trip with a quick and “local” way to perk up! Having picked up a few travel books from my local library (which I am a huge fan of!!), Greenwell Farms was recommended as a great spot and luckily it wasn’t too far off the beaten path and it was free!

DSCF0102DSCF0105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am (ignore me post-flight mess) tasting and checking out the Kona coffee – so smooth! And the coffee plants with the beans growing on them! Learned a lot with the little tour we had around the plantation. Very neat and recommended!

*mere*