Whale pictures from Bill (using a real camera)

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More shots from Bill

Traditional hula and chant at Volcanoes National Park:


Sunset at Kona:












View from our condo:


Kilauea caldera:








Fissures with steam coming up:


Banyan tree in downtown Hilo:


Above Rainbow Falls in Hilo:


Sunset from the pool at our condo:


Toad friend by the pool:





Traditional hula being taught in Kona:


At Pololu Valley Overlook:





On our last day, we visited the Onizuka Science Center next to the airport in Kona. Ellison Onizuka was one of the 7 astronauts on the Challenger Space Shuttle that exploded shortly after takeoff in January, 1986. He was from Hawaii, and they have made a fitting tribute to him at this science center, geared toward kids. We had to drag the kids out of there so we could make our plane on time.






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Jet lag

Well, at 10am this morning, after 14 hours in bed, I made the kids get up and drink something and eat. I think they easily would have slept until noon, perhaps beyond. I asked Josie if she woke up during the night (I was awake from 12-4a), she looked at me like I was crazy and said "I slept like a stone".

All 3 sat at the bar as I made their breakfast, looking as hung over as anyone I've ever seen. I asked them if they knew what they were feeling was called, and no one even attempted an answer. I told them it was called jet lag, and tried to explain what it was. Mitch said, "This feels really bad, but it's better than not going to Hawaii." :)


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Location:Home

Hawaiian words we learned

A few Hawaiian words we learned:

Honu - turtle
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a - trigger fish
Nene - endangered Hawaiian goose
Mahalo - thank you, you see this one everywhere ("Mahalo for dining with us", "Mahalo for shopping at...", etc.)
Aloha (we already knew that one)

When we were boarding to leave Kona, Josie and I were picking up the rear, and I told her to take one last look at Hawaii as we climbed the steps onto the plane. She did and said, "Mahalo for bringing us on this trip." :)


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Parting shots from Hawaii

Open-air lobby of the check-in area at the condo:





Open-air terminal at the airport:








Our first ride home:


Hawaii from the air:








I forgot to take a picture of it on our way over, got it this time on our way home. This is O'Hare's airplane from WW II:



We are home now, jet lagged, but very content from our trip. Kids report their favorite parts of the trip were the Rainforest Zoo in Hilo, snorkeling, and the whale watching trip. My favorites (and I think Bill's, too) were driving across such varied landscapes - arid lava beds, coastal cliffs, rolling grasslands, dense rainforests - and walking along the southernmost point of the US, the Pololu Valley Overlook, Volcanoes National Park, and the waterfalls around Hilo. It was fun to try to learn to say the Hawaiian words correctly and to learn about Hawaiian culture and heritage - the traditional hula and chant at VNP was a real treat. And, like the kids, we were both amazed at the turtles and the variety of fish we saw when we snorkeled.

I certainly hope the kids remember this trip for the rest of their lives. I know I will!

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Location:Condo, Kona Airport, flights home

Driving 19 South back to Kona

Rainbow on the drive back to Kona:


Sun behind clouds on drive back to Kona:


We also saw several whale spouts from the road, as it paralleled the coastline for most of the way. Couldn't see their bodies from that distance, but the water mist in the air over the water was unmistakable. Kids had their eyes peeled and Josie and Samantha were able to see the spouts - very exciting. Beautiful ending to our last full day on the Big Island.
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Location:Hwy 19

Hawaiian pizza in Hawi

Yum, yum, yummy, yum, yum!!!


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Location:Hawi

Pololu Valley Overlook

Coconuts at the base of the branches:


We kept saying, "Slow down, watch your step!" :)





As you go down the cliff, more and more of the coastline is revealed:











I zoomed in for this shot:








Josie found something she called a coconut head. I don't know what it was, it sort of looked like a miniature version of Wilson from "Cast Away" (Tom Hanks film):


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Location:Pololu Valley Overlook