Feb.14...Going to Hilo
Sunday Feb.14 was our in between day for two separate rentals at the Surf and Racquet Club. It turns out the weather forecast was in our favour and the reality was every good as predicted. Mostly sunny and the atmosphere is very clear.
So we started early enough at 9am and took the highway towards Waimea and then we head on the famous Saddle Road the one between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Both volcanoes are very clear and picturesque. I think Mauna Kohala is the smaller mountain on the very north of Hawaii. This drive is so wonderful it completely changes the way we think about crossing the Big Island. Mainly because this might have been the perfect viewing day. The Saddle Road has been much improved.
In Hilo not too many touristy things like museums are even open. So we head towards our favourite botanical gardens just north of Hilo. And not too far away is What's Shaking Restaurant. We all have a fish wrap with plenty of vegies and fruit on the side. A good lunch before we go garden walking.
Since it is such a clear day the botanical garden is even more beautiful to behold. The trees, plants and topography lend itself to an unusually complete floral-plant-trees experience.
In Hilo we stay with Alan and Penne at Aaron's Cottage. It is a B+B with separate rooms so that the outdoor spaces and kitchen can be used communally. Alan is a guy who likes to have a good chat with his guests and compare notes how other countries work.
Supper is at Hilo Bay Café. It is Feb. 14th and the restaurant s full of couples. Adrienne orders the special pork on sweet potato chips nachos style and then Fish and Chips for her main. I have an eggplant vegie custard entrée. The custard was a herbed mashed potato topping on a very succulent creamy eggplant gathering. All swimming in specially made tomato puree and a stream of liquid spinach. My main was also Fish and Chips and was also very good. For dessert I had 3 scopes of blueberry ice cream. A. had 3 scopes of mango sorbet.
Feb.15th......Kilauea Volcano day
Leaving Hilo but first we visit the Japanese Garden right on the Hilo Bay harbour. And only for a few minutes just to take more pictures.
One part of the Kilauea Volcano is close to Hilo. A. and Jean always wanted to take the Hilo approach. We did not get close to Mister Kilauea from this side....but our stop at Lava Tree Park. These pillars of lava were created in the 1600's apparently when lava surrounded some very big trees and immortalized then for some years to come. The loop around these lava trees is definitely worth a trip by themselves.
When entering the Kilauea Volcano National Park we again had so much to see. We went on an extra long detour 9miles across the lower part of the park. A one lane road. Be careful of traffic going the other way. Kim has to drive. No way for me. The picnicking was free style from food we are carrying from Kona to Hilo and back to Kona in our ice container. It is very windy And we are having a good lunch.
The main Kilauea caldera was smoking quite a bit when we got around to it. Photos were easy to take. The air around the park itself had never revealed itself so brightly before. One could definely see for 25 miles to the furthest edges of Mauna Loa.
Late drive back was a bit hard. I have done this before. The last part towards our destination of Kielua Kona is in the dark and the road is very curvy. But we get where we have to go.
Rebel Restaurant is our supper place. A. has a very big Rebel Burger and Red Ale. I have an Ono Burger with a Porter. The girls insist we go for gelato. I think it is GySea Gelato is the name. A. and I had a chocolate scoop and a scoop of mint chocolate.
Long day.
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