March 15 - Around the East Side

We left Kona heading south. We drove through forest, fog, lava fields, and forests again. In the town of Na‘alehu, we stopped for a rest at 10:30 a.m., Hana Hou Restaurant for coffee and baked goods. Sweet and heavy brownie. Rain.

At Punalu‘u Beach, we visited a couple sea turtles on the black sand and rocks.

Next, up the hill to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, to Kilauea Iki, "little Kilauea crater." Through the clouds, the crater floor was visible, but barely. Small plants grow on the lava bed. Many plants covered the crater wall cliffs. Too wet and foggy for a hike.

Down down down toward Hilo, coasting all the way. We passed then took a u-turn to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut factory. Peered into the factory floor. Bought some nuts. Pulled off the road in the orchard for a close look at the trees.

In Hilo, we head to our bed & breakfast, the Hilo Honu Inn.

Huge house. 4000 sf or so. Douglas-fir floors, continuous sections the length of each room, even the large rooms. The walls, interior and exterior, are a single thickness of wood, barely 2" thick. No insulation, no framing. A high chair-rail is actually a bracing strap. 4:30 p.m.

Up the road/river a few miles we drove to Boiling Pots and distant Pe‘epe‘e Falls. Disappointing. It felt like the interesting part of the canyon was just out of sight downstream. We couldn’t venture far from the parking lot, either, due to guardrails, cliffs, and jungle.

We headed back down to the bay and took a walk around Coconut Island and the Japanese garden, over bridges and around ponds. No fish to be seen.

6:30 p.m., we went back to the house. Rested, ate papaya. Watched AFV, Chunlin read financial articles online. No wifi troubles here.

Oh, the frogs!