Nine days on Hawaii, aka the Big Island, starting on the Kona Coast, then to Volcanoes National Park, and ending on the Kohala Coast.
iPhone 5s; December 2016.
The exterior of Hula Moon Cottage.
A quick stop at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, before arriving at Volcano.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach is the southernmost point in the United States. Feels a bit like the end of the world.
The petroglyphs at Pu‘u Loa (or, volcanic emoji).
The shave ice at Original Big Island Shave Ice Co, housed in a truck in Kawaihae, is probably the best I’ve ever had.
Another shot at Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.
The view from the lanai of the main house at Ka’awa Loa Plantation in Captain Cook.
The cottage at Ka’awa Loa Plantation: home for the first four nights on the Kona coast.
View at dusk at the Kalapana Flow area, where lava is flowing into the sea.
Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
A shot on the grounds of Umauna Falls.
Pre-volcano breakfast at Lotus Garden Cottages.
After our time in Volcanoes National Park, we drove through Hilo to Umauna Falls, where we ziplined over falls and swimming holes.
A palm tree at Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
The landscape of Volcanoes National Park, somewhere along Chain of Craters Road.
Outdoor shower at Ka’awa Loa Plantation, a few steps from the hot tub.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, one of four green sand beaches in the world. Stopped here during our drive from Captain Cook to Volcano.
The leafy interior of one of the outdoor showers.
The path to Pu‘u Loa, the site of ancient petroglyphs carved into lava rock.
The living room of the main house at Ka’awa Loa Plantation.
Trees at Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park on a rainy day.
Primary lava rule: don’t annoy the goddess Pele.
While exploring Volcanoes National Park, we stayed at Lotus Garden Cottages B&B for a few nights, in the rainforest of Volcano.
It was rainy and overcast most of our trip — we finally saw the sun on the day we left, on a beach along the Kohala Coast.