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A sea turtle convention at A-bay.

In the late afternoon shadows we almost did not see the herd of sea turtles.

Flat tire with no time to spare

On the way back from the green sand beach at South Point we hit an old cattle guard and had an instant flat tire. The sun was going down and we changed the tire just in time to get to pavement before dark.

It was a hot summer day and even the sea turtle came up to the beach.

This picture was taken just north of 'Anaeho'omalu Beach (A-Bay) You can see the Marriott's beach in the back ground.

This turtle bob was sunning himself about a 10 minute walk south of A-Bay.

He must not have liked the crowd at A-Bay and had this beach all to himself. You can too.

Retreating down the cinder cone.

On the way from Kailua-Kona to Waikoloa you will see 2 large cinder cones next to the ocean. I always wanted to drive up that cone. I am sorry to say the road was too much for the Jeep. We were not successful in our ascent.

South Kohala lava road to the sea

The last part of the South Kohala road to the sea was also too much for the Jeep. We decided it would be prudent to walk.

There must be something interesting over there?

All that white stuff on the shore is coral. We took buckets of it back to the highway and wrote HI MOM!

Look at all the coral on the shore.

There are lots of uses for coral.

Dr. Lucas on the rocks

There are the cinder cones behind Lucas. You can see the road up the side and our jeep off to the left in the distance.

Lucas by a tidal pool in South Kohala

We discovered some nice tidal pools at the end of the lava road. It is all so very different from our North Carolina beaches. I guess it is a tidal pool when it is in rock?

It is OK to walk on lava rock except when it is still moving

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It is possible to walk right up to flowing lava if you can stand the heat.

I dare say most of us have never felt heat like this. Imagine opening the oven door, then, multiply by 4. You will step back.

Sometimes it can be a long walk to reach flowing lava.

It is always best to take a young man to carry lots of water, food, and all the cameras.

Sometimes the lava will crust over and stop flowing. Soon it will inflate and break out of the cooling crust and flow again.

The first time you see rocks move is an experience you will not soon forget.

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The lava is moving. It is best not to leave your possessions’ in its path.

We left some water and camera about 20' in front an advancing flow. When we looked back in a few minutes the lava was within only a few feet of the cameras. We did not do that again.

Can you feel it getting closer yet?

If you walk far enough to see the lava you will have the lava to yourself. (Except for the helicopters overhead)

Flowing lava cracks, pops, and hisses like a living thing.

We were at the lava about an hour this day. Only when we left did we realize we missed the noise of the flowing lava.

Did I say this stuff was hot?

When you step back away from the lava's heat the 90+ degrees of a humid tropical day seems cool.

As you can see it will break out all around you. It is best not to get trapped!

The heat will keep you from just walking into it.

Lava on top of lava, on top of lava, until it is hundreds of feet thick.

Given enough time this is how Hawaii is made.

This is a lava toe.

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This is a skylight looking into the PKK lava tube. It is flowing all the way from the vent to the sea.

It was bigger than I expected and is flowing faster too. When it reaches the ocean the sea water flashes to steam. That is the steam cloud you see in the distance.

Dr. Lucas did not like the heat

Too close, too close!

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This is the leading edge of the flow.

It bends and twists into an endless variety of shapes and patterns.

This lava was so hot it turned my hair white.

But, seriously, I was worried the heat would damage the camera.

When you find the flowing lava you never have enough film, memory cards, time, or water.

On Kohala Hwy 250 you can often see Haleakala on the island of Maui in the distance.

At the end of Hwy 270 in north Kohala this is the view looking toward Waipi'o Valley.

Also at the end of Hwy 270 in north Kohala there is a nice black sand beach. The trail down to Pololu Beach is worth the time.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters at Waikoloa

The first flight of the morning leaves early while the weather is clear. They are off to the volcano.

One quick pass over the crowd and it is up over the saddle across the island

4WD 35 miles around Mauna Kea between 9,000 and 12.000 feet. It took us ALL DAY

A stop on the way up 12,000 feet. Yes, that is Maui in the background rising above the clouds.

Higher now! That is Mauna Loa behind the Jeep in the distance

Wow, we are not to 12,000 feet yet and there are silver swards growing along the road.

If you look at the mountain side ahead of the Jeep you will see the road switch backs climbing the slope.

We are high on Maune Kea, but not that high

That is Waimea in the valley below and that big mountain in the distance above the clouds is Haleakala on the island of Maui.

Here is the red jeep in front of another red cinder cone

Look closely, that is the Hawaiian owl. We also say wild pigs, but they were too fast to get a picture.

On our way back down the mountain now, that is Mauna Loa beyond the clouds.

Just another red cinder cone in the background.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and the view back into Waipi'o Valley

Waipi'o Valley from the air

This big valley is the next north of Waipi'o Valley.

When seen from the air, it is shocking how much of the island is uninhabited

'Anaeho'omalu Beach at sun set

The place of refuge is always one of our favorites

Here is Jeannie and the red jeep before we set out for a day of 4WD on Mauna Kea