Last Day in Hawaii :(

I almost don't want to write this last post because it's the end of our trip. We wanted to go to the green sand beach but we were unsure if we could since we had to check out of our hotel at noon and our flight wasn't leaving until around 9 p.m. The hotel was booked so we couldn't get a late check out so we decided to just hang out without any concrete plans.

The green sand beach was either a 3 mile hike or we needed a jeep. We also wanted to go to the Captain Cook Monument, but maybe one day when we go back to the Big Island of Hawaii.

After breakfast, Eric and I went snorkeling:

This is probably one of the best underwater camera cases. Yes, unfortunately it has black stuff on the sides of the pictures, but we it was better than nothing!


We finally got to eat at Kona Brewing Company after many attempts to eat there. Why don't they take reservations? I have no idea.

I was sad that it was our last day in Hawaii.

But later I tried to put on a happy face.

Last sunset in Hawaii 2009.

Happy Birthday Eric!

Eric and I were sad that our time in Hawaii was about over. However, one thing that I was not going to miss were the mosquito bites. Although we had and used bug sprays they somehow still got to me when we were hiking.

We spent the morning just walking around out hotel since part of it was being restored as you can see behind me. We also walked along the rocks and saw a lot of sea life forms!





Later that afternoon we went parasailing. I was scared. I have never been parasailing before, so I did not know what to expect. However, it was so much fun and I would totally do it again. However, it was kind of expensive but what the heck, it was Eric's birthday!



Later that night we went to a luau. According to our book, Big Island Revealed, this one was the best. We enjoyed the huge meal and entertainment we had that night. There was even a three person band that played beautiful Hawaiian music while we ate. I had such a great night!






Here are some taro chips. They were delicious!


My Mai Tai! I was a little happy after consuming this!



I think this was the best way to celebrate a birthday with no cold weather!

Hilo!

Eric and I woke up the next morning from our volcano trip and drove a couple of hours to Hilo. We took this famous road called Saddle Road to get there. Although it was windy, I feel asleep in the car since yesterday was so tiring.

When reading through our Big Island Revealed I learned of a snack shop called "Two Ladies Kitchen" where they sell these Japanese inspired treats called "mochi." Below you can see the various types of mochi.

Below are their famous strawberry mochi made with FRESH strawberries. Each one of these is specially made and we had to wait about five minutes for them to make it. We were lucky since it was the holiday season and they were open. On the day that we went they are normally closed.

We took the mochi to a nearby park with a lot of Banyan trees. Here Eric is demonstrating how you eat a strawberry mochi:

Here is me eating one!

We then also went to see more waterfalls and some crazy trees. I had a really upset stomach that day so I wasn't feeling like myself. I think my body was not use all that it suffered the previous day. Here are some random pictures below. We didn't do anything rigorous just some minor hiking and relaxing in Hilo.

Do you see Eric below?

Volcano Park Day!

Eric and I decided we would go see the volcano(s) on December 28, 2009. We took a two hour trip to Hawaii Volcano National Park. Again, Eric and I were lucky that we brought our lunch here so that we could eat where we wanted to. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that we should have stayed the night at a nearby town called Hilo (since we were going there the next day). Visiting this area really requires two days if you want to fully experience everything. Although, we got to see a lot and do a 3 mile hike it was very exhausting.

On our way to the park we stopped by one of the many scenic overlooks and saw all these volcanic rocks (sorry if I'm not up on my volcano lingo).

There was a sign there too explaining what we saw.

When we arrived at the park we paid a fee and then proceeded to the visitor's area. I was surprised by the huge air purifier they had. Makes me wish I had taken a picture of it so you know what I'm talking about. After leaving this area Eric and I visited a Sulpher Spring. Oh, it stank!

Then we went to visit a steam mist. People were scared when the wind blow the mist, but it was really just mist!

We then went into another area that would have allowed us to see the crater, but because the fumes from the volcano was too strong we could only be inside. Let me show you how dramatic it is:

Even this gentlemen had to wear a mask!

Then Eric and I endured a four mile hike called Kilauea Iki after our lunch. We finished our yummy banana bread from our trip to Hana.

We also went through a lava tube after our hike. We were so tired!

Later, Eric and I had dinner and then drove about another 45 minutes to see an actual volcano. Unfortunately, Big Island Revealed made it seem like we could walk along lava, but we could only see splashes of it coming out of the volcano. Thank goodness we bought binoculars. Another investment well worth spending!


We also were lucky that we brought flashlights and ponchos. It started to rain, but it was miserable with the heat and humidity to wear a poncho as well. However, it turned out not to be too bad. Since we were walking on rocks, having a flashlight was imperative.

Do you see the small red speck that is the volcano next to me?

After our sighting, Eric drove us back to our hotel and I quickly feel asleep in the car. We did a lot in that one day and I would recommend a day or two at the Park if you visit the Big Island of Hawaii!

Hello Big Island!

My friend, Jessica, asked if my trip to Hawaii ended with the last post and it certainly hasn't! I definitely wanted to put up our experiences even if nobody reads this so that I can remember our trip. We got to our hotel pretty late that night but it wasn't as bad as getting to Maui. One should not mistaken the Big Island as Oahu. The Big Island's real name is Hawaii but if you say Hawaii the next natural reaction to ask is which Island. So it's better to just call it the Big Island.

As I write this a month later the thing I remember most was that Eric and I were SO tired from the travel that we were woken up by our neighbors. Turns out that the room we had were suite style and we could hear them through the door that connected our rooms. I was miserable and awake (I had just begun adjusting to letting myself sleep in). I begged Eric to ask for a new room, for one without a suite.

Unfortunately all rooms were suite style but we got to get a new room which we quickly grabbed and the rest of the stay was nice.

Near our hotel there's a beach where the turtles come and bask in the sun or as you can see in the picture below: just chill.

Later Eric and I went to Miller's Snorkel Shop and rented snorkel gear for the week. Here are some pictures from Eric's snorkeling mission.


Eric finally bought me a lei at the farmers market and we shopped. We ate dinner at Quinn's Fish House. It was the cheapest place for a virgin pina colada as you see pictured below.



The sunset...