Hawaii






 We have spent the past week in Hawaii.  For the majority of our trip, we have been based in Hilo.  It is a great location for getting to waterfalls and volcanoes, but, and it’s a big but, it has been raining 24/7 since we got here.  It apparently is the town that gets the highest yearly rainfall in the U.S.  Hawaii?  Seattle?  I don’t know.



Even with the rain, there are beautiful sites to see.  Above is a shot of Rainbow Falls.  The picture at the top is Bridget with Akaka Falls.  Below is a lava tube that we walked through.



Between the rain drops, we made it to a botanical garden that was just gorgeous.




I



Hawaii, in the minds of many, is a paradise, a tropical resort for the rich and famous.  Hawaii, in reality, has a large homeless population and a large percentage of its population living at, or near, poverty level.  We found homeless people, at every turn, living on the streets of Hilo.  The high price of real estate and the lack of high paying jobs creates a difficult situation for local Hawaiians.


A town mural in Hilo.


Gotta get your uke!


Crashing waves at a bay in Hilo.

We did find a break in the rain, for one afternoon in Hilo. So we went to Richardson’s Beach.



We also found a turtle.


To find the sun, we drove across the island to Kona to spend a couple of days.  We went to the beaches and a luau.  It was a fun time.




I almost forgot the volcanoes.  While earlier in the year, the lava was flowing, we did not see such a sight.  We made a day and an evening trip.  Here are my best pictures of volcanic activity.  Woo hoo.



Well, we certainly weren’t in danger.  Finally,  here are some shots from our journey through the big island.




We are off to Los Angeles to visit Eliza.  Aloha!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

San Pedro, Chile

Image
San Pedro de Atacama is a town in a desert in Chile.    The town itself feels like a tourist town with restaurants and gift shops and tour companies galore.  However, it is in an amazing place with geisers, mountains and desert sights that make it an incredible place to visit. On our first day we hiked the Pukara de Quitor, a precolumbian archaeological site that was a defensive bunker used to protect against invaders. The next day, we were up at 4:30 am to catch a ride to the Tatio Geisers for sunrise. We explored the Valle de la Luna, which has some great desert formations.  But, I wouldn’t say it looks like the surface of the moon. We caught some beautiful sunsets, which is a standard desert pastime.  At the best locations, everyone comes out for the show. The next day we tried to go to Laguna Cejar and Dos Ojos, but we were unsuccessful. There was some weird thing about the times we went. So we went to Laguna Chaxa and Cejar the next day at the right times. ...
Read more

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Image
We are in San Juan, Puerto Rico completing our volunteer experience with CRESPR.org in the Bucare Urban Garden.  This organization is all about the maintenance and recovery of the dunes on the island of Puerto Rico. Through the growth and planting of mangroves and other native plants, the dunes can be kept in place.  So, we are doing some gardening. Yes.  They are superpositive. Nothing wrong with sitting on a compost bucket while waiting for the gate to open. The edge of a green sanctuary made possible by CRESPR.org. The skate park above was the foundation of a condominium.  It was never completed and the adjacent land has become a green sanctuary with hundreds of plantings done by B.U.G. This is one of the leaders of CRES, Juan. Yvette is the other leader. They both volunteer their time and don’t get paid. This is hard work but they say it’s their hobby.  Old San Juan is a beautiful city.  The history of Spanish conquest is a central part of Old San Juan....
Read more

Jon & Bridget's Sabbatical Begins

Image
 Hello All!! Our sabbatical begins with a flight to Cape Town, South Africa on 9/11/22.  We will be in Cape Town for a week.  We then head to Kruger National Park, South Africa for a 2-week volunteer experience.  This will be a hands-on, working in the park, experience.  We have to be up at 4:30 each morning.  Yes, they must have coffee.  I hope that you all check-in to follow our adventures.  We will post pictures as we go, so there could be fun things to look at besides us dressed up in our wedding costumes.  And, away we go!!!!!!!!!!!
Read more