Hawaii travel log Part III

On darling's birthday, we flew to Hilo to strart our island hopping trip. It's not those island hopping at Redang to other small islands, this one needs to fly. Thanks to Frank who dropped us at the airport. 

Hilo is a town at Hawaii or Big Island. The biggest island among the 8 Hawaiian islands and it is still growing. Why? because the lava from the volcano flows to the ocean. The airport is an open air one and looks really simple. 

We are taking Hawaiian airlines!

Darling chose the window seat where we can have the island view. I wonder how he knows how the plane will fly...

Reached the Hilo airport. Open air...

We got our rental car and off we go to check in to our hotel - Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Apparently that is the best hotel at Hilo area. Hilo is an area full with rain fall. It rained a few times in our first day. And the rain is not light shower like those in Honolulu. It was like those rain in Malaysia. Took some time to look for our hotel because the name we book should be Castle Hilo Hotel, which also known as Hilo Hawaiian. Stop by a park to look around and search for the hotel booking to get the exact address; and realize that the hotel was just next to the park we were at.

The park where tsunami hit many years ago

Nissan versa, the car we rented

And so, this is our hotel, with perfect sea view. But with no beach =.=

Although there were no beach there, but I really like the view. Especially next day in the morning, because it was sunny and the view was superb! So after we checked in, rested for a while, off we go to visit the coconut island, which was just next to the hotel too. The location was the best one. From the top, you can see the shape of the hotel looks like a coconut tree.

Coconut Island, view from our room

Hilo Hawaiian at the back

There was a tour counter in our hotel and they offer Mauna Kea trip at 175USD per pax. Very expensive but Mauna Kea is one of the main attraction in Big Island. So darling decided to go for it, thanks to him, to pay for me also :D We decided to join the trip on the second day, because I need to get myself a pair of thicker track bottom, or jeans. 

So, we did some self driving light trip to Rainbow falls, Boiling pots, Mauna Loa factory, shopping at Walmart & Ross. We were back to hotel rather early on the first night, 9pm maybe.

we at rainbow falls

boiling pots-when streams of water falls go into the central pond, it looks like boiling with bubbles

Mauna Loa Macadamia nut factory - we found that the nuts sold at Costco was cheaper LOL

Went to Jamba Juice to get quench our thirst!

The trolley at Target. I wanted to show sis about this trolley - will be good for baby ray

We spent quite some time to shop around, looking for suitable pants, bought water at Walmart, and continue to look for my suitable pants in Ross. Finally I got myself a Levi's jeans for 16USD, and back to hotel to call it a day.

The next morning, we got up rather early to visit Ken's pancake shop again for our breakfast. Darling introduced me Egg & Benedict on the first day and I fell in love with that! So I pestered darling to go there again so that I can eat that again. After breakkie, we head to National Volcano Park. It's quite cold when we were nearly there because we were going uphill and it was still morning. 

The national park ticket for a car can last 1 week and the park was open for 24hours. After we visited the tourist information centre to check on the spot of interest and the safe path to go, watch a video and started our journey at the park.

Steam vent at the back

Mauna Loa

Attempted to do some jumps but failed to take nice pics...

Attempted again to take some nice romantic shoots but failed too, darling complained my track bottom ruin the pic

So we took a close up one. The feeling still lacking if compared to the one we took at Prague. 

The active volcano crater next to Jaggar Musuem

Kilauea Iki crater trail at the back - the ranger at the visitor centre told us if you touch the ground you can feel the heat

However, we didn't take the Kilauea Iki trail because we need to get back to hotel before 3pm to join the Mauna Kea tour. So we continue to drive to our destination Sea Arch. Stop by a few nice scenic point on the way. I could not believe that I was actually physically present at these beautiful natural view. It was too amazing!

Straight road but the view was superb

Incredible view...I still can't believe I was at that place last month

Little red in action

Some greens among the black lava rocks

At the cliff

Voila! The sea arch

So after the sea arch, we drove straight back to our hotel, stopped by Jack in the box to grab our lunch. Got back to our hotel room to change my jeans and by the time we went to the lobby, the tour van is already there. A bit disappointed actually because I thought it should be a 4wd or jeep, instead of a van.

So Elridge, our tour guide, brought us to Rainbow falls (again) and stop by 7-11 for us to grab some water and food. Later, we head to Mauna Kea. He stop at some scenic point for us to take pictures as well as for our lungs to expand to prevent any altitude sickness. Mauna Kea is maybe around the height as Mt Kota Kinabalu from the sea level. However, it's base was far deep into the sea base. The stats says Mauna Kea is even higher than Mt Everest. 

Halfway up Mauna Kea

Silver sword, you can only find this kind of plants above some altitude

Attempted to do some jumps again but failed terribly

So I did the normal ones

We are above cloud level, this is just at the tourist information centre. Still have some distance away from the top

After hanging around at the visitor information centre, we continued our way to the top. The purpose stopping a few times was for our lungs to expand according to the altitude gradually, other than taking some scenic view photos. 

I love this pic a lot!

Big satellite dish halfway through

Observatory

The shadow of Mauna Kea

The observatory will open if the weather is good

We were there to catch the sunset

The top was at freezing point

We went back to National Volcano Park at 12midnight again to take a look at the active crater with glare and smoke. It was amazing, but I was a chicken heart. Pestering darling to get back asap. Well, there was only us in the area and it was so windy, dark and only us! Kinda scary isn't it?

Glare and smoke from the crater next to Jaggar Museum

And the next early morning, we took a flight to the next destination, Maui island; which I'm gonna blog it in another post :)