Auch wenn ihr uns vermutlich Schreibfaulheit unterstellt, und damit vermutlich sogar gar nicht mal Unrecht habt, waren wir die letzten 3 Tage doch gut genug beschäftigt…und WLAN gabs auch nicht, daher hier eine kurze Zusammenfassung . Seit Donnerstagmorgen sind wir auf Big Island oder Hawai’i unterwegs. Wie der Name schon sagt, ist diese Insel groß, ziemlich groß sogar. Für den ersten Tag nahmen wir uns den Norden vor. Unser bestellter Kompaktwagen ist zwei drei Nummern größer ausgefallen und wieder aus dem Hause GM - ein Pontiac G6. Schicke Rentnerschaukel und obendrein edel [View Full Entry]

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the four of us adventurers (dorinda, dave, helen and me) left maui this morning at 9am for bigger better things on the big island. arriving in hilo, helen had already reserved a car and we were quickly on our way to arnott's lodge, the hostel recommended to us, where we were fortunate enough to see our first geckos of the trip!!! after checking in to the deserted hostel, we went to the weekly farmers market to pick up some produce, including some fresh pineapple, avocados, and even the hawaiian specialty: spam sushi. that's right, i said spam sushi. now, some of [View Full Entry]

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From the Green Sand Beach we decided to keep going to the other side of the island to the Volcano National Park. We stayed in a cute little cottage in the rain forest, it was probably one of the most amazing places I've ever stayed. We had fresh fruit, milk, oj, eggs and more delivered to our door each morning, there was a hot tub hidden in a little hut with candles everywhere and the cottage itself was beautiful inside. The owners were very interested in helping us get the most out of our trip, and provided us with maps to [View Full Entry]

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Hilo, the true Hawaii... Hilo is 2 hours drive on the other side from the Kona Coast. There is not a single top-resort, it rains here more than anywhere else in Hawaii, and most of the tourists are day-trippers from the Kona Coast. So why do we spend so many days here? Well, thanks to Marty, Chris and their two daughters, we are going to discover the true Hawaii. Marty is one of Ma'ri sisters, so this is also for me my first family visit. Guys you are great, we had an amazing time with you and hope to see you [View Full Entry]

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Surreal doesn't even BEGIN to describe the awesomeness of trekking to the top of the world's largest active volcano - a 40 mile (64 kilometres to the Canucks) round-trip to over 13 000 feet and back again. Add in all of the factors contributing to its awesomeness - altitude sickness, total isolation (the only people within at least a 30 mile radius), the silence so deafening your ears ring, 2-3 feet of snow, severe winter weather warnings, climbing on hardened rivers of lava, and the only other people to attempt the climb when we did being rescued by a Search-and-Rescue helicopter.... [View Full Entry]

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Today we travel over the Big Island to Kona. Kona is the region. Kailu'a is the town to which we will move all our worldly goods that we brought along. Ann and I have traveled to wherever our son and daughter-in-law have lived in the Far East, U. S., and now Europe, so we have learned to pack light. We have only one carry-on suitcase and one personal bag apiece. We found the laundry early and used it often in each place we stayed. Unlike many of our group, we came from and return to a warm climate. Florida does not [View Full Entry]

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Our first free day, a Friday, dawned pleasant and clear. Ann signed up to go to the Tsunami Museum. Her group left around 9:30 and I left for the helicopter ride about 10. We got our breakfast at Uncle Billy's General Store. Ann and her group of ten met Allen Crawford, accountant for the Lyman Museum. He led them through the small tsunami museum in one of the downtown banks. They saw a video showing the before and after scenes related to where the tsunami hit Hilo almost fifty yeas ago. The Hawai'ian Islands are the capitol of the world in [View Full Entry]

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Our "Free Day" just means we have a choice day. Some of our options were Safari Helicoptor tour of Kilauea Volcanic system, Hawai'i Botanical gardens, Astronomy Center, and Tsunami Museum. I chose the Helicopter tour of Kilauea and John chose the Hawai'i Botanical garden. I was able to go to a Weight Watchers meeting to weigh-in. Susan was able to drop me off while taking others to Tsunami Museum and then pick me up on the way back to hotel. Unbelieveable! I lost 2lbs since last weigh-in!! The Sarfari Helicopter people then picked us up and took us to Helioport and [View Full Entry]

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In the morning we see Mauna Kea from our dinning room corner. Today we start with our second class about Hawai'ian language with Susan. Then we have another class at the Lyman Museum - Ancient Plants and Medicines of Hawai'i with Linda Collazo and her assistant. Lunch at Miyo's Japanese Restaurant enjoyed by all. we visit Volcano Tree National Park and see the effect of lava in the forest. Very Impressive- Rob McGovern, Susan's husband, helps us understand the lava tube (which we walk through later) and the lava trees. Very impressive! Susan has planned a picnic supper at the flow [View Full Entry]

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Getting up was a project after such a big day. But the group somehow was nearly all gathered for breakfast when we came down at 7, the official time to begin. Tired as everyone was, we were excited about meeting Pele, Goddess of Fire. We were to wear red if we wanted her to look favorably upon us. We were also supposed to bring gin but that was overlooked in our excitement. Legend has it that those who meet Pele must provide her with a gin offering. At least that is what a gin-imbiber rumored after surviving a lava flow very [View Full Entry]

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