September 22, 2012

September 22nd, 2012--Leaving Mauna Lani Condo and driving over to Volacno Teapot Cottage, Volacano, Hi

Today was the day we headed over to stay in Volcano for a few nights.  We got up, cleaned up the condo and hit the road.  It was a beautiful day on the road--we took part of the old Mamalahoa Highway. 

 

We were going to hit our 1000th geocache found today so we picked what we thought sounded like a really cool one:  Mamalahoa TB Hotel--located in at Lava Tube Cave.  Well, it was kind of a dud of a geocache but the cave was pretty cool!

Us with our 1000th geocache 

 

Exploring the Cave...there is string so that you can't get lost! 

Jason is up there somehwere... 

 

Very Sad that some people think this is a garbage can... 

Back on the road again...who would have known this is what Hawaii looks like!

Had to stop at Tex's Drive in for some Malasadas again..they are so good.   

 

We then stopped by Laupahoehoe Point.  There was a Tsunami on April 1, 1946 that killed 21 schoolchildren and 3 adults.  The ocean is very powerful here!  And there was a virtual geocache here!

 

 

We stopped by Waikaumalo Park for a geocache and a change of clothes.  If you head up the stream here, there is a waterfall but we didn't feel like swimming...so we passed

Views up and down the bridge 

 

We then stopped by the Nanue Bridge and decided to boulder hop up the stream to a waterfall.  

Views up and down the river 

 

Jason up ahead of me and some of the boulders we had to hop around to get to the waterfall... 

 

After about 20 minutes, we saw it...absolutely beautiful 

Didn't know how deep it was so didn't want to just dive in! 

 

Views from the bottom of the waterfall...

One last look at the waterfall before we head back... 

Some more boulder hopping back to the car. 

 

Jason finding the trail back to the road...of course once he got to the top, he realized it wasn't the correct trail but he made it! 

 

The real trail..still not much of one though 

  

We then did some tourist stuff--you know gawk at the cool houses in the area...we like the Honda Elements at Lai Nani...and the interesting palm tree/cell phone tower.   

 

 

We then stopped by 'Akaka Falls State Park.  If you park on the street, you only have to pay the entrance fee, if you park in the parking lot, you have to pay an additional $5 I think.  The fee is $1 per person and you pay the 'official' park employee.  You give him a dollar, he lets you walk the trail.  He has an official shirt on so he must be legit!

 

There is a paved trail that does have some stairs with a little elevation change...nothing too major but if worried about it, just go to the left to 'Akaka Falls. 

 

Pretty flowers along the trail.

 

Kahuna Falls is back there... 

So we took a picture... 

There are really cool trees that have vines hanging down.  The couple ahead of us was really tall and the guy would touch the vine...We tried but we are a little short!! 

  

 

'Akaka Falls

Jason took a picture of me at the falls...then we asked someone to take one of us.  Lesson learned--make sure you point out that you actually WANT the falls in the background :)    

 

So we hung around to ask someone else for a picture.   

Some more flowers and water along the walkway.  

  

We then had to stop at What's Shakin' for the best smoothie on the island...

 

And stopped by the Naha Stone at the library.  It's weight is estimated at 7000 pounds...legend states that whoever could turn it over would be the first king of all of the islands.  Kamehameha was able to move it at age 14 and he later became King Kamehameha.  There was a geocache here also but the lady with the big dog nearby changed our mind about searching for it!

We then stopped by Rainbow Falls...

The views are best in the morning when the sun is behind you causing the rainbow...we were here close to 4pm and it wasn't so impressive!

But there was a pretty flower!

 

We then drove up to Boiling Pots...there were really pretty palm trees here 

Pe'epe'e Falls is in the background... 

 

We ended the day in Hilo at Wai'ale Falls.  We debated about hiking to the falls but it was getting late and we needed to stop by the store before we went to Volcano.  This will definitely be on our to-do list when we get back.   

 

We hit the KTA store and the Foodland store before heading out to Volcano.  Purchased some more Poke and dinner.  We stayed at the Teapot Cottage...and had to get creative to bring our refrigerated food.  Decided on $5 cooler bags from walmart that we brought back home vs $20 on a cooler we would throw away.  The ice made it and so did all of our food!   

Dinner was the usual:  fish, rice, squash/salad.  But we got to enjoy dessert thanks to the Teapot! 

After dinner we headed over to Jaggar Museum to see the Lava flow.  It was a cold night so we took some coffee and banana bread from the cottage and enjoyed the view.  It's really hard to get a picture that captures the sight.  These are just 'okay' pictures but they were the best we had!