Logistics

While we did mail a box of supplies for camp in July to Grandma's house, for the rest of this trip, we are travelling with only our carry-ons.  We each have a backpack and a 20-inch rollaboard suitcase, which fit nicely in the overhead bin on all but the smallest planes (like between Pensacola and Dallas).

Including what we are wearing, here is the packing list for each of us:

• pants (2 pairs)
• shorts (3 pairs)
• short-sleeve shirts (5)
• long-sleeve shirts (1)
• sweatshirt/sweater (1)
• socks (6 pairs)
• underwear (6 pairs)
• swimsuit with long-sleeve sun protection shirt (1)
• pajamas (1)
• windbreaker (1)
• fleece jacket, gloves, hat, and scarf
• umbrella
• snorkeling set
• laundry bag
• towel
• flip flops (1 pair)
• running shoes (1 pair)
• dress & cardigan for Miriam / skirt & cardigan for me, plus one extra bra
• sunscreen
• teddy bear

For all of us:

• running clothes (2 sets) for me, plus a pair of sandals
• sarongs (2) to use for towel/blanket/tablecloth
• clothesline, laundry detergent, and sink stopper
• toiletries
• books & activity books
• camera
• some small board games, 2 e-readers and 1 tablet
• food

Besides snacks, I packed some granola and several packages of microwavable rice.  This has worked so well!  We picked up some eggs,  fruit, vegetables, and cheese at a farmers' market, plus some bread and chips at a grocery store, and we were set and feasted well for a minimum cost.

We're staying at budget hotels and hostels (which are not only for the young, by the way!)  They tend to be great places to find cooking facilities and sometimes new friends or at least temporary playmates.  One thing I particularly like is that it seems to be easier to find rooms with three beds, or at least three bunks.  And even staying in private rooms rather than in dorms (that part may be for the actual "youth" of the youth hostel scene), it saves money to go into my budget for our next adventure!

Fire and Water

As awesome as the volcano is during the day, seeing it at night is another amazing experience.  We got up at 4 this morning and drove out to the look-out point at Volcano National Park.  You can see the glow for miles before you even get to the parking lot, and once you are at the look-out point, it really lights up the night. It was drizzly and windy and was hard to stay out for too long, but we managed to stare at the marvels of creation for the last 15 minutes before dawn.  

Later this morning we flew back to Honolulu, where we went more or less directly to Hanauma Bay for snorkling.  It was also windy (apparently the trade winds have been worsening due to global climate change), and even in the protected cove, the water wasn't exactly a glassy sea, but we we all snorkeled for about an hour and saw scores of fishes of various sizes and colors, and about a dozen sea urchins.  I didn't take the camera into the water for pictures of the fish, but here's what Miriam and Hans looked like between sessions.  It's been awhile since the kids have snorkeled, and we broke in their new masks today, and all went well.  Mostly we're considering this a practice session for the Great Barrier Reef in a week or so, and Miriam has said that she's really looking forward to that part of our trip.

Hans' stitches continue to heal, and both of them are recovering as quickly as usual from the rest of their scrapes and bruises.  Tomorrow is another "rest day" as we'll be spending it on the plane...heading Down Under!

The Southernmost Town in the USA

After yesterday's exertions (and Hans' injury) we spent today relaxing with a drive to the Southernmost town, Naalehu, and more importantly, bakery, in the USA.  Now we're on my kind of vacation!  We took some more pictures in front of the beautiful, albeit rough, ocean (from a safe distance), and saw a few wild sea turtles on the black sand beaches.  Both Miriam and Hans enjoyed one of their favorite activities from the mainland as well: tree climbing.

After lunch at the delicious Sweet Cane vegetarain cafe in Hilo, we ventured on to Akaka Falls, and then to Lava Tree State Park and the first opportunity to actually use the umbrellas we've been toting around with us! 

Kilauea -- the Active Volcano

After our early morning hike, we drove around to where the volcano flows into the ocean, at Kamokuna.  We had planned on walking out to the observation point, which would have brought our walking mileage of the day to that of a half marathon, but when we discovered rental bikes, decided to do that instead.  The bikes were wonderful...going out to the point... with the wind and mostly downhill.  The way back, uphill and into 30+ mph wind was a bit of a struggle, but we made it.  And for what we got to see, it was absolutely worth it.   

We spent about 30 minutes out there, eating our picnic lunch and just watching in awe at the power of nature and the beauty of the earth.  The ocean was full of so many different amazing blues, from azure to navy to turquoise, and the sight of the lava flowing down to the water is simply fantastic.  The solid lava, which resembles nothing so much as brownie batter spread haphazardly in a pan is wonderful, too.  

On the way home we stopped at a tide pool, but stayed a bit too long...Hans got caught off guard by a huge wave and was knocked into a rock.  Besides scrapes and bruises, he ended up with a gash in his side that required 2 hours at urgent care and seven stitches, but he's recovering nicely and absolutely refuses to let me put a picture of it on the blog (and really, a good thing, too, as it's not pretty).  Thank goodness for good health and good insurance, and he was his old self and well on his way to recovery by the time we left the clinic.  Rule number one in Hawaii -- never turn your back on Moana (the sea)! 

In the Middle of ... Amazing

On Thursday morning, we set out for a couple hikes in Volcanoes National Park, mostly following the footsteps we took when here last, when the kids were little.  That time, we had to carry them, this time they took off on the 4-mile hike at a run.  Our main hike of the morning was the Kilauea Iki Trail, a loop "through lush rain forest to the floor of the solid, but still steaming, Kilauea Iki crater lava lake."  Miriam stood in the center of the desolation and decreed it "in the Middle of Amazing".

Both kids also really enjoyed the symbolism of the plants poking up through the lava, the little bits of green and the few red flowers that are blooming, surrounded by all the gray and black stone.  They talked about how "hope springs eternal" and focused the camera on all of the illustrations of that idea that Nature was showing us.

Hilo, Hawaii

From Hononlulu, we flew to Paradise, also known as the Big Island of Hawaii.

After spending a day enjoying Hilo, from the farmers' market to Rainbow Falls to the very informative Tsunami Museum of the Pacific and Mokupapapa Discovery Center, we then ate as many free samples as Mauna Loa Macadamias would give us (and managed to actually buy plenty, too).  We then set out for Volcanoes National Park. The volcano is active, and besides all the smoke we did catch a few glimpses of fire -- this is so exciting that strangers grab each other by the arm and yell "There!  Did you see it?" every few minutes as a little bit of red jumps into sight.

We picked up the park information from the visitors' center and then found our lodging, a few miles outside the park.  We have a gorgeous little house with a loft bedroom for the kids and a full kitchen, all set in the cool rain forest near Volcano, Hawaii.  The rain taps on the tin roof and the birds sing and frogs croak, and lots of other things make noise, too, and there has been lots of mentions on how "we could live here", or at least use the general floor plan to build our next house (although it was agreed that the roof should be higher to allow more head room in the loft).  Alii Kane Cottages, another place we recommend!

Paying Respects at Pearl Harbor

We arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday morning around 10am, after the 5-and-a-half hour flight from Portland.  Alaska Airlines did a great job, and while the flight wasn't exactly perfectly smoothe, the trip was definitely pleasant, and hey, we landed in paradise.  We took a taxi to the hostel, and left our things before venturing to Pearl Harbor.  The bus ride out to the memorial took about an hour, but it was also pleasant...when I didn't have the exact change we owed, the driver cheerfully let us on with all the singles in my wallet, despite being a couple bucks short.  

Pearl Harbor is, as is fitting for a memorial and burial ground of so many people, a solemn place, although a crowded one.  We were unable to get tickets to take the boat ride over the Arizona, so stayed at the main location and looked at the memorials and museums there.  We all recently read "What Was Pearl Harbor", and it was very interesting to put a place to the history we had learned.  As an aside, whenever you are travelling or otherwise have an opportunity to learn about a different place, person, or event, check out the "What /Who Is/Was" series.  It is designed for elementary school readers, and so the books don't take long to read, but they are always well organized, well researched, well illustrated, and very interesting.