Blogs from Big Island, Hawaii, United States, North America - page 31

On the Big Island we hired a car and explored with heaps of driving. The island was so different to Oa’hu. It was cool, grassy with heaps of cattle ranchers. We went through small towns and eventually came to a lookout over Waipio Valley which came complete with eucalyptus trees. ... read more

Dahna: A point the taxi driver failed to mention, when he was suggesting that we really needed a rental car to get about in, was that the public buses that go from most major towns/areas to most other major towns/areas are free. So, on the 27th we found ourselves sitting at the Hilo bus stop waiting to be taken up to the Volcano National park village. The bus terminal felt pretty seedy. There were quite a few anti drug and anti alcohol signs up around the place, and fairly blatant drug deals going on near the pagoda, just behind the bus shelter. I was (probably totally unnecessarily) acutely aware of our laptop, digital video camera and fat juicy wallets as I sat purposely in front of the security video camera while projecting a very relaxed expression ... read more

Dahna: We decided to hire bikes for a couple of days (US$20 a day) and just stay based at the hostel for a few nights. We rode five miles up a pretty steep (well steep enough) hill to Kaumana caves. Not a very long ride, especially considering Jono's brother (ode to you Martin) is currently riding around eastern Turkey to Syria and Lebanon to Iran, Central Asia and onwards to Russia. BUT it was enough to make my legs feel it after having not done much exercise since leaving home. The caves were only marked by a small road side sign and had a pretty run-down car park and toilet block. The locals obviously don't consider it a tourist attraction. The "caves" are actually massive old lava tubes formed by an 1881 lava flow from Mauna ... read more

Today we ported at Kona, which is the other side of the island we were on yesterday. It was actually the warmest day of the islands we have been to yet. Got up normal time and had our usual buffet lunch. Got off the ship and finally had a look at the shops here. Went to Wal Mart which is like a big Kmart and Coles combined. Then went to Hilo Hattie which is like where you buy all the authentic Hawaiian wear. So you wouldn’t go to Hawaii and not buy a Hawaiian shirt. So we bought one each! Then headed back to the pier which had a beach next to it, so just chilled on the beach for a bit. At 12.30 we had a raft and snorkel cruise booked. So we got on ... read more

Continued with Ǻsa and Lisa (a visitor via Couch Surfing) clockwise along the coast until highway 270 ends at some very big valleys. Couch Surfing Jatkoin matkaa myötäpäivää rantaa pitkin kunnes pikatie 270 loppui laaksoon Ǻsan ja Lisan kanssa (Lisa on vierailja Couch Surfingin kautta). Couch Surfing verkkosivut... read more