Aloha Island of Hawaii

Hello dear Hivers.

Is Hawaii in your bucket list as a travel destination? It was in ours and we just crossed it off! Yeyy!

Hawaii has many islands, the more famous ones being Oahu, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island.

Hawaii Island is also called "The Big Island" because it is the largest of the islands covering an area of 4,028 square miles. It was created from the eruptions of five separate volcanoes including Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world and is currently an ongoing eruption since September 2021. This is the island that we visited.

Kilauea Volcano Image Source

The Island of Hawaii is also known for its beaches, green forests, black lava fields, and waterfalls.

This is our "home" for our short vacation on the Big Island, Hilton at Waikoloa village.

THE MAJESTIC AKAKA FALLS

There is a self-guided walk through the lush vegetation to the vista points overlooking Akaka Falls. The trailhead is located just off the parking lot.

As we followed the paved path, we passed through lush rainforest-filled with bamboo groves, ferns, and other more greeneries.

Continuing to the uphill hike, and into the vista point, we saw the spectacular 442 feet high Akaka Falls plummeting into a gorge and its beautiful vegetation. It is perhaps the island's most famous and picturesque waterfall

EXPLORING THE KAUMANA CAVES

The Kaumana Caves is a gigantic lava tube that was formed by the lava flow from Mauna Loa's eruption in 1881. The lava tube is approximately 20 miles but visitors can only see about 2 miles from the entrance as the other parts of the lava tube are privately owned.

From the parking lot we walked following a trail lined with lush trees and plants on both sides.

Then we walked down a set of steep concrete staircase with metal handrailing into the collapsed roof the cave. This is the entrance to the cave.

Sunlight illuminated the front of the cave. We walked in carefully as there are many hanging vines on the roof and boulders on the floor.

While we got deeper into the cave it got darker. We have read before going to the Big Island that we have to bring flashlight to be able to explore inside the cave. But when we got there, there were lights already installed illuminating the walls and floor. It was an awesome sight of the different shapes of the lava cooled on the ceilings, walls and floor.

A closer look at the ceiling and walls of the lava tube

The floor has the characteristic of pahoehoe lava, smooth and unbroken not jagged

The end of the lava tube we were allowed to see, lead to an exit, we climbed up the stairs (this is not the same stairs where we entered) and to the trail back to the parking lot. It was a short hike but exciting.

The Exit

DRIVING DOWN THE CHAIN OF CRATERS ROAD

It is a 18 mile long drive and going from 4,000 ft elevation to sea level. The scenic drive is covered by old craters of various shapes and sizes and barren lava fields.

Since 1986 lava from Kilauea flowed many times over Chain of Craters Road and it has been eating portions of the road.

We drove by the lava fields

We walked to the lava fields

Old lava flows and the ocean

UMAUMA ZIPLINE

Umauma zips directly above the beautiful three-tiered waterfall and panoramic view of tropical gardens. Soaring above the trees and waterfalls looks thrilling but let's just give it to brave young bloods.

Gearing up and getting ready

Waiting for her turn to soar

The breathtaking views.....

The three-tiered Umauma falls

Hanging out at Kaua Bay before heading home.

Heading home after an exhausting but amazing day!

Thank you for the read.

[//]:# (!pinmapple 19.550029 lat -155.692760 long akaka falls d3scr)

[//]:# (!pinmapple 19.518882 lat -155.675019 long kaumana caves d3scr)

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