Big Island Blog - Kona Hawaii Travel Blog

Diving with the Turtles at Honaunau

2008-06-28T10:15:00.004-05:00

I recently went SCUBA Diving with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles at Honaunau Bay (Place of Refuge), South Kona on the Big Island. This is one of my favorite places to dive on the Big Island and offers an expansive reef in relatively shallow water (that means a lot of bottom time!) The quality of the reef is excellent with a variety of different types and colors of mature coral that stretches out and around the bay. The visibility is usually typical Kona (excellent) - although on this particular stormy day it wasn't its usual 100' of clarity. Also, one added bonus - you are pretty much guaranteed to swim with some turtles!

This spot is popular with snorkelers too (if they can figure out the directions). The area closest to shore is shallow and offers exceptional snorkeling. The entry point is right off of a lava rock shelf. As popular a site as this is - if no one was in the water you would probably drive right by as it is a non-descript bend in the road.

Video - Kayaking to Makalawena

2008-06-20T20:28:00.005-05:00

Here is a video clip of us kayaking onto Makalawena Beach - there were a few minor swells and rollers, luckily the arrival area was an empty sandy beach with no obstacles... Also, I forgot to mention that we kayaked next to a pod of Spinner Dolphoins on the way back to Kua Bay - it was quite memorable.

Kayak to Makalawena Beach

2008-06-18T02:34:00.004-05:00

This morning we put in our Kayaks at Kua Bay (Maniniowali Beach) right as the park opened up at 9:00 AM. On board we had our snorkeling gear, our waterproof cameras and a cooler with kalua pig sandwiches inside. Our goal was to kayak to Makalawena Beach - a secluded and austere beach that is difficult to access. We talked about attempting this a while ago in a previous blog post but were unsuccessful - today we were determined to do it! Luckily, the weather smiled upon us with calm seas and sunshine. So, we loaded our kayak and carried it down over the rocks from the pavement to the bleached-white sandy beach below and started paddling.

Ahead and to the north there was already a dive boat anchored atop the reef nearby and our curiosity almost pulled us in that direction to investigate the diving conditions there - but we were focused on our goal of reaching Makalawena (many say this is the prettiest beach on the island...) We started paddling to the south and the scenery was spectacular. The waters of Kua Bay are many different shades of blue - from emerald to a light and bright blue, to a darker navy blue where the reef is below. We continued and passed the large mound of a hill to our left and noticed for the first time a row of houses near its base - I wonder, more vacation rentals - or perhaps exclusive beach bungalows for the rich and famous?

As we kept paddling beyond this cove, we began to see the strand of trees that borders the northern end of Makalawena and we knew we were not far. As we paddled, the waters were so clear that we could make out glimpses of the vast reef below us. On several occassions, I lowered myself into the water with a mask and snorkel to marvel at the underwater topography and corals - the reef was beautiful. By now, we could make out a glimpse of thegently sloping dunes at Makalawena. The sand there is a special shade of white and could be seen shining in the distance, surrounded by lava rocks and underbriush. As we stared at the beach we were dissappointed by seeing a few people already on the beach - we were hoping to be the only ones there...

As we approached the northen edge of the beach, we notice a very shallow reef shelf below us with vibrant yellow and blue hued colors. We decided to anchor the kayak and snorkel the reef below us. We dropped our anchor on a patch of sand at the bottom and saw a thriving reef below us in about 20 feet of water. We spent a short while snorkeling and free diving above the reef. Then we finally decided it was time to paddle in to shore - at Makalawena!

We navigated the approach avoiding lava rocks and a shallow reef and were pushed by surging waves the final distance onto the immacculate beach - we were finally there! The beach was better than I imagined and better than any piuctures could capture. The sand was perfect - soft, fine, and firm under our bare feet. The azure waters shined and the white sand contrasted starkly next to the dried lava rocks and surrounding green shrubbery. The waves lapped on shore on the beach and pounded the lava rocks sending sea spray into the air. Makalawena is actually three beach crescents located side by side to each other - we had landed on the center crescent. We spent some time exploring and photographing the beach and eventually sat on the lava rocks to enjoy our sandwiches before paddling back to Kua Bay. It was a wonderful day! Right now, my legs ache a bit because I forgot to add sunblock to them and they are a bit sun burnt...

Trip to Kauai (Part 1)

2008-06-15T19:47:00.003-05:00

I have just returned from a week to the island of Kauai. Although this website and blog are meant to concentrate on "all things Big Island", I will indulge you with a few musings and anecdotes from my trip to Kauai. In the near future, I will be posting detailed travelogues, photos, videos, and virtual tours about Kauai on a separate website...

When first arriving Lihue Airport I marveled as to how similar in layout and appearance it was to the Hilo Airport! On the arrival and landing, our plane came in low over the ridge (south of the airfield) and took a hard right descending turn to touchdown - it was pretty exciting and the (close up) view of the lushly vegetated mountains and rugged terrain was unbelievable. Kauai was a sight to behold.

My initial impression of the island was that it was very scenic and captured a lot of the feel from "Old Hawaii" - much like the eastern (Hilo) side of the Big Island does. Kauai has a lot of small towns with a few roads connecting inbetween - mostly one lane each way with a guaranteed view of the mountains from any spot on the island! There are a lot of white sand beaches on Kauai - some are small and hidden by dense foliage or palm trees, others are wide open long stretches of sand (several miles) lined with surfers enjoying a favorable break -- the beaches reminded me of many in Kohala on the Big Island, minus the dried lava fields. There are beaches on all four coasts of Kauai - however, the Western shore (Na Pali Coast) is nearly inaccessible...

The weather was as unpredictable as Hilo / Hamakua - with guaranteed early morning showers, and spotty rain here and there inbetween bright blue tropical skies. Without a doubt Kauai was very pretty - we wanted to stop our car nearly every mile on nearly every drive to take pictures of the scenery. Like I always tell my friends, Hawaii will turn anyone into a good photographer - and Kauai is no exception.

Kilauea Explosion - Portions of Park Closed

2008-03-22T22:30:00.002-05:00

There was an explosion at the Halemaumau Crater, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on 3/19/2008. Rocks shot from the Wednesday's explosion damaged a wooden fence that visitors used to peer into the crater and created hazards across nearby roads and paths.

Areas in the park that are shut because of explosive debris or high sulfur dioxide levels are:
• Crater Rim Drive between Kilauea Military Campsouth/southeast to Chain of Craters Road.
• Crater Rim Trail from Jaggar Museum parking lot south/southeast to Chain of Craters Road.
• All trails leading to Halema`uma`u crater are closed including those from Byron Ledge, 'Iliahi (Sandalwood) Trail, and Ka'u Desert Trail.
Rocks shot from the explosion damaged a wooden fence that visitors used to peer into the crater and created hazards across nearby roads and paths.

Excerpt from USA Today:

By Dave Dondoneau and Dan Nakaso, The Honolulu Advertiser
HONOLULU — Plumes of smoke billowed out of Kilauea volcano Thursday, and visitors were kept at least a mile away from the scene of the volcano's first explosion in 84 years.

Scientists who monitor instruments measuring activity at Kilauea volcano were surprised by the explosion that occurred at 2:58 a.m. Wednesday. The blast scattered boulders and smaller rocks over 75 acres of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, said Steve Brantley, deputy scientist in charge of the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Honolulu Advertiser

Scientists do not know whether — or when — a similar explosion will occur, Brantley said. There were no reported injuries, but falling rocks — including a boulder about 3½ feet in diameter — damaged the popular Halemaumau lookout and its parking lot. Rubble was scattered along Crater Rim Drive, the road that visitors use to drive through the park, Brantley said.
The explosion at Halemaumau crater was the first since 1924.

"There have not been any additional explosions since the one early Wednesday morning," Brantley said.

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory did not know what to expect in the coming days or weeks.

"It's very exciting for all of us," said Jim Gale, chief of interpretation at the observatory. "It's such a change from the overall activity I've seen in my seven years here.

"We're exploring new worlds," said Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge at the observatory. "The recent explosive event represents a significant addition and change to Kilauea volcano's ongoing activity, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is using every means available to study its causes and consequences."

Gale said most of the park remains safe and open, but 1 mile of Crater Rim Drive was closed from Kilauea Military Camp to Jaggar Museum as a precaution.

Sulfur dioxide levels have been on the rise at Kilauea since December, Gale said. "There's enough sulfur dioxide being put out at the Kilauea summit right now to fill 150 Goodyear blimps a day," he added. "It is a concern."

The sulfur dioxide gasses pose a health risk, especially to people who suffer from asthma and chronic coughing, observatory geochemist Jeff Sutton said.

Fire and police authorities made emergency plans to evacuate nearby villages if the winds blew toxic gasses in their direction, said Duane Hosaka at Hawaii County Civil Defense. The volcano's gas emissions have moved toward the sea, rather than over populated areas.

One mile outside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a handful of visitors canceled reservations at the 14-room Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant after inaccurate rumors spread that the park service was evacuating people after the explosion, said Janet Coney, the lodge's office manager. "They're not evacuating," Coney said.

"To me, there's a lot of excitement," she said. "I hope the mountain doesn't go. But with Mother Nature, you never know what could happen. You have to take one day at a time."

Visitors Up Close with Kilauea Lava Flow

2008-03-09T15:14:00.005-05:00

The saga of the Kilauea Volcano lava flow continues. Last year, the lava flow changed direction, flowing further east and through more remote areas - unfortunately preventing the general public from viewing the geological phenomenon. Since then, the lava flow threatened the edge of a few austere housing communities, but for the most part remained hidden from public view. But, in the last several days, the dynamic conditions changed yet again as the lava flow made a turn and presented a wonderful opportunity for tourists and locals alike to view the active lava flow's ocean entry - where the rivers of lava flow into the ocean resulting in plumes of steam, hissing of super-hot lava mixing with the roaring ocean waves.

Excerpt from KGMB Channel 9:

For some it was a once in a lifetime event, seeing lava flow into the Pacific Ocean from the Kilauea volcano. Saturday was the first time, visitors could legally get this close to the spectacular view. Big Island County opened a new viewing area or the public, and its just a quarter mile away from where the lava hits the sea.

Excerpt from KPUA AM670:

Viewing area to see lava flow opens
By Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) _ A viewing area allowing people to see lava from Kilauea volcano flow into the water has opened. The site is accessible by a half-mile pedestrian trail and is a little more than a quarter mile from where the lava meets the sea. Officials expect hundreds of people to visit the site, which is the first way to legally see lava from the ground or watch it enter the sea since last June. State, county and federal officials say they will meet each morning to decide whether the lava flows threaten visitors and need to close the viewing area. Civil defense officials say they will have security at the site to prevent people from going there after hours. The site is open from 2 to 10 p.m.

This was the best re-cap of of how to view the latest lava flow:
Excerpt from the Honolulu Advertiser (3/7/08)

HILO, Hawai'i — Lava completed its trip down the slopes of Kilauea volcano and has begun flowing into the ocean, and Big Island officials braced for an expected surge of people visiting the remote Puna coastline to see Madame Pele's handiwork.

The area around the lava flow is still closed to the public, but state and county crews are expected to finish improving about two miles of rough access road today to provide a safe route to trails and observation points where spectators can see the lava.

A blessing and opening of the improved road and turnaround point are scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m., according to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim.

After inspecting the scene yesterday morning, Kim told his staff the latest flow offers a fascinating opportunity for visitors to view lava, but also poses risks.

The area has little or no cell phone service, almost no facilities and it will be easy for newcomers to become disoriented as they hike to get closer to the ocean entry, Kim said.

The visitor turnaround is being built in a forested area that was bypassed by previous flows, and another risk is that new fingers of lava could extend from a flow upslope of the access road and enter the old-growth area, starting fires and causing methane explosions as the lava reaches the vegetation, said Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge of the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory.

"There is a certainty of more fingers," and scientists will closely monitor the widening flow activity mauka of the improved road, Kauahikaua said. "It's expanding, so it will go east and west."

The lava began entering the ocean late Wednesday or early yesterday morning.

Kauahikaua said the pahoehoe flow is rapidly coating a bench extending off the coast, and is blasting steam into the air as it touches the seawater. He said there is a good chance a second finger of lava will continue downslope and by Saturday also will reach the ocean.

"It's really quite a spectacular sight, a lot of lava going into the ocean," he said.

ACROSS ROYAL GARDENS

The lava flow's passage through the Royal Gardens subdivision prompted Civil Defense to evacuate about five people from the area Monday as the flow threatened to sever an access road that the county built for lava viewing in 2001.

That road was cut Tuesday evening, and now state and county crews are working on a new turnaround further east to allow people to get close to the lava viewing area.

The flow passing through Royal Gardens offers the most accessible lava viewing opportunities from the ground in many months, and county officials expect 1,000 or more visitors a day will head for the new viewing site once it is opened.

Ted Miller, construction and maintenance superintendent for the state Department of Transportation's Highway Division on the Big Island, estimated the improvements are costing the state about $100,000.

More than a dozen state workers were operating graders, backhoes and other equipment to prepare the access road, which is made up of remnants of the old two-lane Highway 130 that was severed repeatedly by lava. The highway remnants are connected by narrow passages cut through lava that covered the highway.

The crews are improving the two-mile route, and adding a turnaround that will double as a helicopter landing area in emergencies, Miller said. Cars can park on the shoulder of the paved stretch, he said.

Traffic may be slow because the links between the paved areas are only one lane wide, forcing motorists to pull over to let one another pass, he said.

MAKING PEOPLE 'HAPPY'

The county in 2001 charged a toll for people who used a similar access road to get to the flow, and Kim said he may impose a similar charge again to recoup the cost of roadwork. Initially, however, there will be no charge to use the road, which will be open from 2 to 10 p.m.

"I think Madame Pele has given us a tremendous opportunity to admire her creation," Kim said.

"Even if this stops one day after it started, we're going to make a few hundred or a few thousand people happy," Kim said. "We're going to make a lot of people experience things that they've never even dreamt about."

Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to survey the flow tomorrow morning from a Hawai'i National Guard helicopter.

Visiting the Big Island Without a Car

2008-02-18T15:18:00.005-05:00

Recently, friends of mine visited the Big Island of Hawaii. Naturally, I tried to help them plan their vacation - I offered tips on where to go, what hotel to stay at, and overall tried to steer them towards the http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/ website for all of their vacation planning needs.

Unfortunately, I must have forgotten to mention that they would need a rental car (but, who goes on vacation without renting a car?)... Well, these friends arrived at Kona Keahole Airport without any plans for a car and then simply took a (very expensive) taxi to their hotel in Kailua-Kona town and began their vacation. Later on I did find out why they did this -- although they had never been to the Big Island, they had previously visited Oahu many times and were impressed with the robust public transportation system that exists there (namely the public bus) -- they thought the Big Island 1.) was smaller with attractions closer together and 2.) there was good public transportation. Wrong on both counts.

So, for the first several days all they did was venture a short walking distance from the Royal Kona Resort hotel on Alii Drive -- never even making it to the Kohala area beaches or Kahaluu Beach Park, or Captain Cook or South Kona -- because they did not have a vehicle. They remarked to me later, "There are no beaches on the Big Island!" - and I thought to myself, what a strange thing to say (until I realized they never even made it to the beach!) Eventually, for the last few days of their trip, they rented a car and drove to the Volcanoes National Park, Hilo, and then up the Hamakua Coast and back up over to Kona - probably the best part of their trip.

So, the moral of the story is - RENT A CAR on the Big Island. There is so much more to do and see and everything is so spread out compared to the other (smaller) islands. Rent a car (and pack some comfortable walking shoes) and you will be able to access all of the islands splendid attractions.

Backcountry Hiking Plans

2008-02-07T21:44:00.000-05:00

My brother and I have laid out some plans to do some backcountry overnight hiking on the Big Island sometime in the next several months. I have wanted to hike deep beyond the Pololu Valley, past the Honokane Nui and beyond. I previously read a blog (that I can no longer find online) that described a wonderful hike many valleys beyond the Pololu, venturing over steep ridges, passing rain-soaked valleys, and far from the casual hiker or passer-by. I've been pouring over a 1:24K topo map of the area and see several marked trails - but I have no idea what the actual condition of those trails actually is. I would like to make this trip an over-nighter, so that we don't have to rush back in the dark -- however I also do not know where an appropriate (or even legal) campsite may be... I'll post more information when we have more figured out.

Our second option is to hike down into the Waipio Valley, across the mouth of the valley, up the intimidating"zig-zag trail" (a.k.a. Muliwai Trail) up and over the staggering ridge, eventually into the scenic and peaceful Waimanu Valley. This valley has been more frequented by hikers and campers - and there are plenty of blogs and online photos of the Waimanu. I think it would be a challenging hike and a very pretty spot to camp out.

Our third option is to hike the Napau Crater trail at the Volcanoes National Park. This is a long hike - with a small campsite located enroute to the spectacular views of Pu'u O'o Crater. I took a look at the trail head and the information published at the Volcano Visitor's Center as well as online trqavelogues -- this looks to be a very interesting, challenging hike. There are several high-terrain points along the route with sweeping views of Napau Crater and other depressions. The grand finale is Pu'i O'o - which I heard is wonderful viewed from here at night. No doubt there would be few if any other persons encountered on this hike. Park rules state that you must register at the Visitor's Center before commencing this hike.

The last hike proposed was enthusiastically brought up by my brother who is looking for a herculean challenge: hike to the summit of Mauna Loa. This looks to be the mother of all hikes on the Big Island - something we would need the right gear and the right conditioning before we attempted this. And I heard it can be brutal -- the rate of altitude change is such that altitude sickness (adema) is felt by many that attempt this hike.

We will be taking a look at all of these options and planning which hikes we will be doing. I have already begun accumulating the gear that I will need for any of these hikes. I recently bought a new pair of hiking boots -- the sturdy and very supportive Asolo 95Ns, as well as a full set of rain outerwear (top and pants), water purifier + tablets to tackle even the tiniest Leptosperosis particles, and I plan on finally getting a good set of trekking poles (something from Black Diamond). We'll keep you all informed of our upcoming backcountry hiking and hope to post several entries as well as photos of the trip itself.

Lava Flow Moves Towards Subdivision

2008-01-12T23:39:00.000-05:00

Below are news excerpts from Big Island lava flow updates.

Summary: Kilauea's lava flow on the Big Island of Hawaii changed direction in the fall of 2007, shifting towards the south east of its previous track. Instead of the southerly flow from the Pu'u O'o vent with some surface flows and a dominant ocean entry, the lava flow shifted east of Pu'u O'o in the direction of the nearly abandoned Royal Gardens Subdivision. The lava was in a virtual stalemate until 1/11/08 when it began to flow in a "threatening" manner directly towards that subdivision. When a long, relatively fast lava flow headed toward Royal Gardens subdivision on Jan 11th, a radio announcement by Hawaii County Civil Defense called it a "threat."

1/12/08 Update
A lava flow on the Big Island has stalled about one-half mile from a mostly abandoned subdivision. But it still threatens one remaining resident. The lava pouring from Kilauea Volcano was expected to reach the Royal Gardens subdivision late Thursday night or early yesterday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory the flow now threatens only the upper part of the subdivision, which has one permanent resident. The observatory's Web site says Hawaii County Civil Defense is dealing with the threat. Over the years, lava from the eruption that began in 1983 has inundated the subdivision, which originally had more than 1,800 lots. [source - KUA.net]

1/11/08 Update
Lava broke out of a holding pattern on Kilauea's East Rift and headed downslope yesterday toward the only two inhabited houses anywhere around, three miles to the southeast in Royal Gardens.

The only two people living in the remnants of the subdivision overrun by lava many times before, two bachelors, shrugged it off.

"I'll get worried when I feel the heat," said bed-and-breakfast owner Jack Thompson.
Dean Schneider, who lives a half-mile away in the sprawling, mostly abandoned subdivision, declined an offer of help from a Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter.
Geologist Tim Orr said the lava could follow a natural contour and miss both houses.

Read the full Honolulu Bulletin article here.

Big Island Lava Flow Threatens Homes

2007-09-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

Excerpt from Honolulu Advertiser newspaper:

Lava flows advance, Hot rock moves amid forest

Far from the public eye, lava from Kilauea Volcano continued its creep toward civilization yesterday.

The eruption that began July 21 is supplying lava to a channel now almost a mile long on the northeast flank of the volcano, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
From the end of the channel, one flow of chunky aa lava has extended another mile and a half, while a second aa flow is advancing farther to the south, the USGS said on its Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Web site.

Scientists are watching for the flows to turn to smoother and faster-moving pahoehoe, which could signal a more imminent hazard to communities in the Puna district.

The flows, now in the Wao Kele o Puna rain forest, are heading downhill in the general direction of Kaohe Homesteads, Leilani Estates and Highway 130 but are at least seven miles away.

The observatory's summary for hazards warns that although there are no immediate threats, "vent areas and lava channels are hazardous and conditions can change rapidly."

Big Island authorities briefed Gov. Linda Lingle last week on the lava activity and now are focusing on keeping Puna residents alert to any potentially dangerous changes.

Article: http://starbulletin.com/2007/09/24/news/story02.html

Aloha Festivals Royal Courts Investiture

2007-08-29T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Aloha Festivals Royal Court Investiture (Ka Ho'ola'a O Na Ali'i) was held on on Aug. 25 2007, at high noon at Halema`uma`u Crater, believed by some native Hawaiians to be the home of Pele. The Ali`i (royal monarchs) will be adorned with their reigning symbols of royalty to the sounds and sights of ceremonial chants and hula. This festival is held on the last Saturday in August every year at the Halema`uma`u Crater in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Below are some photos of the ceremony including the arrival of the Royal Court, traditional hula dancing, historical re-enactment, and the playing of ceremonial musical instruments.

Kilauea Lava Flow Update (Aug 2007)

2007-08-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

Excerpt from CBS News:

Kilauea National Park, Hawaii - Lava poured down the side of Mount Kilaueaon on the "Big Island" of Hawaii on Tuesday as a new phase began in the 24-year eruption of the Kilauea volcano.

The nearby Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve has now closed to the public. Lava erupted from a fissure system about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in length and was pooling in ponds about 50 feet high and a couple of hundred feet across.

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources said molten rock had caused three of the ponds to overflow, posing a danger to the public.

Toxic fumes were also being emitted by the volcano, the department said. The natural area reserve was established in 1987. It covers more than 16,000 acres. Kilauea volcano, on the southernmost Island of Hawaii, is one of the most active on Earth. It sits on the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, resting on the flanks of its larger neighbor volcano Manua Loa.

Kilauea stands just under 4200 feet tall at its highest point.

The current eruption of Kilauea, known as the Pu`u `O`o Eruption, started in January 1983. In the process, lava flows have destroyed 181 houses and the National Park visitor center. There are no signs that the current eruption is slowing or will come to an end any time soon.

Big Island Has No Beaches?

2007-08-11T13:12:00.000-05:00

I recently spoke with friends of mine that took a trip to Hawaii a few years ago. I asked them what island they went to and they responded "the Big Island - you know, the island with no beaches!" Needless to say, I was shocked that they thought of the Big Island as a place with no beaches!

Certainly, there is no Waikiki equivalent on the Big Island, but any visitor or resident will let you know there are plenty of beaches on the Big Island to satisfy anyones beach-going taste. I immediately guessed that my friends probably stayed in a hotel that did not have an adjacent beach. I was right, they stayed at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay - which is perched on lava sea cliffs overlooking the ocean, but with no beach in the vicinity. It is too bad that my friends did not inquire with the hotel staff or any of the slew of tourist guides to find out that there are many great beaches on the island and some very close by.

If you are not staying in a hotel in the resort-laden sunny Kohala Coast, you will have to drive to the beach. But once you get there, your trip would be well-worth it. Instead of long, established beaches such as Waikiki, the Big Island boasts dozens of smaller beaches surrounded by natural beauty (instead of the towering skyline of hotels and condos). You will find every variety of beach - white sand, black sand, grey sand, and even a green sand beach. Some are located just off the main roads with paved parking lots, showers, and bathrooms - such as Kahaluu Beach (Kona) and Hapuna Beach State Park (Kohala). Others, like Makalawena Beach (Kohala) are more austere and require you to hike to reach them. There many secluded beaches that you may be the only one there or just one of a small handful of people - such as Kekaha Kai State Park (Kohala).

If you like undisturbed natural beauty, you will love the beaches of the Big Island. Even popular beaches like Kua Bay (Kohala) and Punaluu Black Sand Beach (Ka'u) are set against their natural surroundings - be it dried lava beds or clusters of shady palm trees. This is the Hawaii we day-dream about. The fact is you could visit a different beach each day of your vacation on the Big Island.

Check out our Big Island Beach Guide for reviews, photos, and maps of all the beaches on the Big Island. We detail how to get to the beaches and which ones are best for sun-bathing, swimming, and snorkeling.

Merrie Monarch Hula Festival

2007-04-18T18:53:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Hilo was not its usual sleepy town. It was alive, all the hotels sold out, visitors filling the streets, and everywhere were the cheery sounds of Ukulele married to the wonderful sights of hula dancers.

The week after Easter is when the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival takes place. It is the largest and most prestigious hula festival in all of Hawaii and takes place annually in the town of Hilo.

If you plan on attending make your reservations early - every single hotel room in town is sure to be booked. The festivities include many outdoor hula shows, the grand parade through downtown Hilo, and the Hula Competition. The grand parade is a sight to see, with floats decorated in traditional island decor, marchers dressed in colorful aloha prints, and many bands - from your traditional marching band - to ukulele players.

The Hula Competition is a must-see event, and just like all else this week, will be sold out early. If you can't make the competition, you can still see various hula shows during the day at scenic outdoor venues. This is a wonderful celebration of Hawaiian culture and a great way to enjoy traditional hula as it is passed on from one generation to the next.

Earthquake Recovery

2007-03-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

Ever since the 10/15/06 Earthquake, the Big Island has been trying to rebuild and recover. The list of damage has been extensive - historic structures such as heiau and Hulihe'e Palace have been damaged, the Kailua-Kona pier and Kawaihae harbor need repairs; and many trails and cliffs have been torn apart. As resilient citizens help rebuild, it is good to see that the natural beauty of the Big Island is also making a rebound.

Kealakekua Bay, a popular kayaking and snorkeling spot in South Kona, is just about where it was prior to the earthquake. You can now kayak across the bay, snorkel above its expansive reef, and even come ashore to view the Captain Cook Monument. Additionally, the trails behind the monument, coming from the road high above, are once again open to the adventurous hiker, extremem mountain biker -- and the leisurely horse-back rider. It is good to see Kealakekua Bay make a comeback.

Recently, parts of the Muliwai Trail leading up the western wall of the Waipio Valley up and over to the Waimanu Valley have been reopened. This very demanding zig-zag trail climbs a monstrous 1200 feet from the black sand beach at the valley floor and leads to an even more remote and pristine valley.

The Kohala Ditch, an irrigation source for the Kohala area was also damaged severely in the earthquake. The various trails paralleling this ditch were also damaged with overturned trees and landslides. Currently, there are ongoing operations to clear the trails and repair the ditch. A lot of work will have to be done, and many thanks to all that are contributing to help the Big Island recover from the earthquake.

The Big Island Hates Kayakers

2007-02-06T16:58:00.000-05:00

Most of my previous posts have been mini travelogues about my adventures on the Big Island. This post I want to talk about something that has puzzled me. As you can tell from this blog and the website I am an avid kayaker. I have been kayaking for many years now, exclusively in the ocean. My main interests include surf kayaking - that is riding the waves on my sit-on-top Ocean Kayak and kayaking to remote locations on the island to snorkel or SCUBA dive. When I lived on the mainland, I used to wait in anticipation for a large coastal storm, then rush to the coast with my kayak, eager to ride the large stormy waves!

As I have traveled throughout the Big Island over the years, I try to find new places to explore, and specifically new places to kayak to. With so many remote coastal areas, the Big Island is a perfect place to explore via kayak. Unfortunately, my recent attempts to kayak the Kona Coast have been thwarted by what I see as anti-kayak laws. What I really love about the Big Island is its raw beauty and wide open spaces. The Big Island is different than most mainland beaches that are crawling with millions of visitors and have so many overwhelming rules and regulations. For some unknown reason, there seems to be a consistent ban on kayaking at so many Big Island locations.

Recently, I had planned an excursion - we wanted to kayak from Kua Bay to Makalawena Beach. I thought it would be a really nice trip with beautiful land scenery as well as prolific reefs to explore. Checking satellite photos, it certainly looked enticing. When I last visited Kua Bay, I saw a dive flag just offshore and that whetted my apetite for exploration. Unfortunately, upon arrival at Kua Bay, we spotted this large garrish sign exclaming: NO KAYAKS ALLOWED. I thought it was very strange considering everything else seems to be acceptible... Not wanting to get fined or arrested, we aborted this mission.

A few days later, we found ourselves coming back from Captain Cook after a fantastic morning of kayaking, snorkeling and SCUBA diving. We decided to take a detour to Kahaluu Beach Park and check out the waves at the north end of this bay. Since it was the winter, the swells were impressive and we thought it would be a great chance to do a little surf kayaking here. So we quickly unloaded our kayak, rigged the seats, threw on our rash guards and slapped sunblock on our faces. We were ready to ride the sets... until we saw another large sign: NO KAYAKS ALLOWED -- we were crushed. We were relegate to body surfing at Magic Sands instead that afternoon... not nearly as fun as battling the waves by kayak.

It seems that the law makers seem to have a personal vandetta against us kayakers. There doesn't seem to be a problem with riding a surf board, body-board, or other flotation device. It is okay for the oppulent resorts limiting the "public beach access" with their condescending guards. But just don't get caught kayaking! Alas, it seems to be a state park law - so us avid kayakers will be forced to stay away from those locations and continue to partake in our sport as renegades.

I look forward to doing more "legal" kayaking in the future and posting my adventures online.

Drive to the Mauna Kea Summit

2007-01-27T00:16:00.000-05:00

Peaking at an elevation of 13,796 ft MSL, you can see the majestic Mauna Kea volcano from almost any point on the Big Island of Hawaii. Often in the winter, Mauna Kea will receive snow fall. The sight of a snow-capped volcano in the backdrop as you lounge on a sunny Kohala beach is truly spectacular. My favorite view is from the higher elevations of Waimea, with its green pastures and rolling hills in the foreground, and towering volcano in the background.

Although it is in plain sight, reaching is summit is not an easy task. The easiest way is to take the guided summit tour. Transportation is conveniently provided along with insightful narrative and telescopes for gazing through the clear cold sky to the heavens above.

If you want to drive there on your own, more than likely you are renting a car and that is a disqualifier. You will be able to reach the Onizuka Visitor’s Center at 9,000 feet, but no further. That is because from here the road is a windy, rough, 4x4-only dirt road, and regular rental vehicles are prohibited (even if you rent an SUV). I mention regular rental vehicles - that is because there is one company on the island that rents *special* vehicles for you to traverse the more rugged portions of the island.

Harper Truck Rentals offers 4WD vehicles that can take you to the top of Mauna Kea, as well as into the Waipio Vallley, and other remote 4x4-only destinations on the island. On this particular occasion, we rented a Toyota 4Runner from Harper and drove the saddle road from Hilo. We turned north at the Mauna Kea Access Road (near the 28-mile marker) and drove 6 miles to the Onizuka Visitor's Center. You can reach the visitor's center in any vehicle, however you cannot continue to the summit from here without 4WD. It is a good idea to rest at the visitor's center for about 30 minutes to help acclimate yourself to this high altitude.

We stopped to tour the visitor's center and then continued on up the windy, loose-gravel road to the summit. The month was December and there was fresh snow on the ground, so we drove slowly and with caution. The narrow road winds its way to the top and we could see expansive views of the island below as well as snow and ice that had accumulated on the cinder cone. We finally reached the end of the road. Up here, some of the world's most powerful and important telescopes are operated by many international organizations. Canted off to the side is the tall cinder cone marking the actual Pu'u Wekiu summit of Mauna Kea. Eager to conquer this point, we departed the vehicle and trudged across the ice and snow towards the peak. If you come this far, make sure you dress warmly! Most visitors to Hawaii do not pack for 30-degree, icy weather, but luckily we were dressed for the occasion - jackets, warm layers, and gloves.

As we ascended this snow-capped peak, we hastened our pace in excitement, and forgetting about the above-10,000 foot altitude, out breathing became a little bit too heavy. Consequently, by the time we reached the peak, we felt a shortness of breath and some light-headedness. Any time a human is above 10,000 feet, there is cause for concern as the oxygen content here is significantly lower than at sea level. With less oxygen being inhaled, opportunities for hypoxia and even edema do exist. I quickly recognized these were all symptoms of hypoxia and that I needed to calm down and sit down - or else... So we took a lot of photos (which I subsequently lost and cannot find to this day) and returned to the truck to sit for a moment as I gathered my breath. Of course, we scooped up snow balls along the way and enjoyed the very unusual Hawaii scene.

There is one other way to reach the summit - although it is a physical challenge. That is to hike from the visitor's center to the summit. That means ascending more than four thousand feet in elevation. The hike is a demanding 12 miles, round trip, and will take most or all of the day to accomplish. Details and maps are available at the visitor's center. Someday I plan to do this hike - along with the very rigorous Mauna Loa summit hike. In the meantime, I need to search my house to find those missing photos of the Mauna Kea summit.

Descending back down on the windy gravel road is a challenge. The grade is steep and the road narrow. This is where the tough 4x4 sure comes in handy. Make sure you do not ride the brakes going down or you could end up with a bad situation. If you can, shift to a lower gear, or engage a downhill assist mode (Toyota truck feature). Fog can swoop in at any time on this road, making it even more dangerous than it already is.

Volcano Hike - Halini Pali Trail

2007-01-18T01:45:00.000-05:00

It was several years ago that we hiked the Halini Pali Trail in the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. This trail has two separate paths, one is about 3.5 miles each way down the slope and the other is 7.5 miles each way down to the ocean. Having done the short trail before, we chose to do the long trail this time. This was several years ago, before the invention of the camelbak and back when things like hydration were not of significant concern... but it should have been!

The trail starts off up at altitude. We parked our car on the Halini Pali Road and started our hike across an old lava flow. Here, a forest has come to life out of the devastating dried lava. As you hike you can see nature making a come back with underbrush, ferns and trees growing out of the harsh lava desert. The trail then leads to the down-sloping side of the volcano - at the edge you can see the magnificent view of the descending slope and ocean below. You can also see the expansive area that you will be hiking - across the wide open lava fields with no shade or cover.

We did this hike inthe middle of the summer and it was certainly hot that day! The trail descends over 2,000 feet to the floor of the Pali and then on to the coast. At this point we started the switch-back trail descending over primarily loose sand and small lava rocks. Footing was a problem as we each slid and fell several times on the descent, even though we moved slowly. An eerie surface-of-the-moon-like setting was waiting for us at the bottom of the slope.

We did not bring a lot with us - a small backpack with only one large jug of water and our snorkeling gear. We had read that there was a small protected inlet at the end of the hike and that you could swim and even snorkel there. With the hot sun beating down on us and exerting ourselves on the hike, we were draining our water supply. Once we reached the bottom of the Pali, the hike winds its way around the dried lava fields, over uneven terrain, with only small piles of lava rocks to mark the trail.

Eventually, the undulating terrain led us to the coast and we could see what seemed like an oasis surrounded by a sea of lava. There were swaying palm trees and green shrubbery surrounding a small inlet. The water was bright blue and very inviting in the heat of this day. We finally reached the cove and donned out snorkeling gear. The lava flow here had created a tide pool - protected from the crashing waves of the ocean by a natural wall of lava rocks, allowing us to snorkel in this calm protected area. The sea life was nice - especially in a place so austere. There wasn't another soul here, and we cherished the solitude that the Big Island can provide.

As we headed back the sea water and activity, along with the higher noon sun caused what seemed like an unquenchable thirst, so we continued to drain the lone water jug that we had brought - now it was down to less than a quarter capacity. I remember having reservations about our dwindling water supply, but we had no where to go but hike back. So we started the long arduous hike back across the rough lava field and then this time UP the slippery switchback trail. Not too far up the ascent, we completely ran out of water. I remember thinking about the 5+ miles to go and how hot it was. It seemed like the minute we ran out of water, the sun turned about ten degrees hotter!

As we continued hiking up, I remember my body slowly draining of energy and slowly being overcome by the heat. All I could think about was water and how thirsty I was and how my lips and throat were getting parched. Now, we had to rest every so often due to the lack of water. The exertion was tough without any water intake. I kept thinking how stupid it was to not bring any more water. Somehow we made it all the way up and across the forested trail back to the car. Even here though, we had no water stored in the car - but we remembered the water fountain at the Thurston Lava Tube. So we drove expeditiously there and all I can remember is grabbing the handle of that water fountain and letting the ice-cold water flow down my dry throat. Each ounce of water that I swallowed brought renewed energy and comfort to me!

Ever since that day, I always pack a lot of water on my hikes and outdoor excursions. I have since then invested in an assortment of hydration gear including the wonderful Camelbak Unbottle, numerous nalgene bottles, and for contingencies, a MiniWorks water purifier. I wanted to recount my story so that others may learn from our mistakes - as well as talk about a wonderful not-so-frequented hike in the national park.

If you do this hike, make sure you bring plenty of water. I would recommend at least one gallon of water per person. Additionally, make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun. Wear appropriate clothing for the hike - see our volcano hiking tips for more information. Don't forget your snorkeling gear and a camera!

Snorkeling at Leleiwi Beach (Hilo)

2007-01-14T01:58:00.000-05:00

Who says the diving in Hilo isn't good? I recently went back to Leleiwi Beach Park, where I have dived dozens and dozens of times. I still enjoy it each time - there is abundant coral and fish life, and the main attraction the 10-30 turtles that you will see each dive. I'll make this post more of a photo essay:

The water conditions were exceptional this dive - great visibility, especially for Hilo. I saw more fish on this dive than I have in the past at Leleiwi; in fact, the water was teeming with colorful tropical fish! The coral was colorful, diverse, and lush. The water entry was a little tricky with high tide and a surging surface state - we simply timed our entry in between sets and made it fine.

I have seen more than thirty turtles on a dive here at Leleiwi. I enjoy observing their impressive presence underwater; some of the adult turtles here are without a doubt older than I am. I see many of the turtles resting gently on the reef, in caves and holes between the coral, and in sandy clearings underwater. Some of the younger adolescent turtles are happily swimming about, curious of me as I am of them.

If you are lucky you will see a turtle cleaning station where fish help the green sea turtle by cleaning his shell. This turtle happened to pose ever so patiently for me to steady my camera and take the shot!

Hiking the Waipio Valley

2007-01-11T21:55:00.000-05:00

I had not hiked the Waipio Valley in over a decade - and I had a never ending burning desire to hike in this remote and austere valley. I read about some of the magestic waterfalls that lay hidden deep in the valley - only to be seen by adventurous hikers. I zeroed my sights in on the famous Hiilawe Falls - a 1400 foot high waterfall at the back side of the Waipio. I knew that hiking up to the waterfall would be a challenge.

I studied a 1:24,000 topo map of the valley and even entered a few coordinates (including the location of the falls) into my GPS for situational awareness. We loaded up on water and my camera and began our hike down the narrow switch-back road from the Waipio Valley Lookout to the valley floor below. The hike down provided a wide panoramic view of the Waipio Valley - as you hiked further and further down the road, you saw a more expansive view of the valley, the farm lands beneath, the black sand beach at the mouth of the valley, and the steep trail scaling the north cliff face leading you over to the next valley, the Waimanu Valley. We spotted several hawks flying overhead, welcoming us to the valley.

You could see small houses and primitive shelters used for farming taro in the fields below. A river winds its way through the middle of the valley - probably fueled by water from the waterfalls. Once we got to the bottom of the valley, we turned left (west) and followed a rough road towards the back end of the valley. Towering fruit trees line the road and the plant life was vibrantly alive - you could smell the freshness and fertility in the air. As the road neared its end, we caught glimpses of Hiilawe Falls in the background and we knew the general direction we needed to go. At this point we wandered down a path (left turn from the road) and ended up passing by several houses. We continued and the trail for the most part ended, but by using the GPS we knew to continue. This led us through a set of taro fields - which are much like rice paddies, water-soaked fields blocked in by man-made walls. We traversed the fields and ended paralleling a stream in the forest.

Then the trail ended abruptly - in front of us was deep water at a bend in the river and on our left and right high, steep rocky canyon walls. We were at a bottle neck with nowhere to go but wade through deep water - my GPS said we were only 0.25 miles from the falls! A mere quarter mile from our goal and it looked unpassable - unless we waded through this deep water with our packs on and camera equipment to get wet, we wouldn't get to the falls.

We decided to turn back and hike down to the black sand beach and enjoy the sights there, a little deflated, at least we saw the majestic Hiilawe Falls. At the beach we saw the mighty Pacific Ocean waves crashing on the shore. Right here in the shade of the coniforous trees, wild horses grazed in the grass, oblivious to us. The raw natural beauty of the Waipio is incredible!

Snorkeling at Pawai Bay

2007-01-11T00:32:00.000-05:00

I had heard about Pawai Bay while searching the internet for snorkeling locations in Kona. I have snorkeled most of the Big Island and am constantly searching for new places to snorkel and SCUBA dive. I read that charter boats take snorkelers to Pawai Bay and decided I wanted to go and check it out. I found out that although this bay is somewhat secluded you can access it by a trail leading from the north end of the Old Kona Airport Beach Park. Apparently, Pawai Bay is located about two coves to the north of the Old Kona Airport. However, I wanted to SCUBA dive at Pawai - so hiking the trail with all my gear was out of the question.

So I came up with the idea of Kayaking to Pawai Bay from Kailua Bay. At first I thought that this might be overly ambitous, but after looking at my GPS and a few maps, I saw that it would be about a 1.5 mile kayak trip (each way). By taking a kayak, we could stow all of our dive gear on board and also enjoy the journey.

So a couple of friends and I started the trip - we paddled right off of the beach at the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Although, there were moderate swells in the ocean, it took us less than one hour to get beyond the Old Airport Beach Park. Then we realized that the waves were crashing on the lava rocks at the shore and we would need to be very careful as we neared shore. Our original plan was to anchor the boat - dropping anchor onto the sandy bottom (and avoid damaging any corals). We brought our anchor with us and as I swam in the water searching for a good place to anchor, I spotted the buoy that the tour boats use to moor and we tied up the this buoy. It was a great find - we were only about 25 yards from shore and right over the reef that we could see through the clear waters below. As we prepared to enter the water, we saw a lone snorkeler pass by our kayaks - she must have come from shore where you can enter the water at the small sandy beach at the edge of the cove.

We dropped in and two of us SCUBA dived as the third person snorkeled. The reef here was expansive, vibrantly alive, and consumed by colorful corals. As I descended on my dive, I could see many large schools of fish in and around us and the reef. There were large schools of curious Goat Fish meandering near us and pockets of Squirrel Fish bobbing with their large eyes protruding. The top of the reef was in about 20-25 feet of water and it descended to beyond 65 feet deep. The water was a warm 78 degrees and about 70 feet of visibility - all in all excellent conditions! This coral reef really reminded me of the dense reef at Captain Cook, one of my favorites on the Island. As we got back in the kayaks and secured our gear, one of my buddies got sea sick because the swells had increased and the chop was getting rough. So we decided to paddle back to Kailua Bay. We only dived one small portion of the reef here at Pawai Bay - and I look forward to coming back to take a look at the rest of it.

Nice Beaches Near Kailua-Kona

2007-01-01T13:23:00.000-05:00

The many tourists that stay in the glitzy Kohala Resorts (such as the Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Mauna Kea, etc.) will probably miss out on some really nice beaches right at the edge of the town of Kailua-Kona. Several of our favorite beaches are located right on Ali'i Drive, at the southern edge of Kailua-Kona. Magic Sands Beach (Laa Loa Beach) and Kahalu'u Beach Park are two must-visit beaches.

Magic Sands Beach Park is a small strip of white sand with sparkling waters. The main attraction here are the fantastic waves that make for some great body-boarding or body-surfing. The waves can be severe in the winter, so keep an eye out for the rogue wave that can wreck havoc! This beach is usually packed with beach goers and spectators watching the wave-riders.

Kahalu'u Beach Park is another great beach, located just south of Magic Sands. The main attraction here is not for what's on land, but for the wonderful under-sea life. You have the unique opportunity to see and swim with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle here at Kahaluu. Although an endangered species, you can see them basking in the sun on the beach and swimming in the shallow waters here. Make sure you bring your snorkel gear - you will enjoy the abundance of tropical fish swimming nearby as well as the vibrant coral reef. The waters are normally quite calm - this is a perfect beach for the whole family.

Hike to the Active Lava Flow

2006-12-22T20:56:00.000-05:00

We decided to hike once again to watch the active lava flow of Kilauea volcano at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We have done this many times now, but wanted to do it once more - plus, we have some new camera equipment that we wanted to try out. As usual, we stopped in to the visitor's center to ask them about the lava conditions and how long the hike would be (the conditions change almost daily). On this occassion it turned out to be about a 3.5 mile hike each way.

We chose to start the hike in the late afternoon to ensure we arrived at the viewing spot prior to sunset - that way we get to see the lava flow as the sky and sun change in the early evening. Also, this way we only have to hike one way in the dark. We were prepared with sturdy hiking boots, lots of water, jackets (it frequently rains here), one flashlight per person, and of course our camera equipment including tripod.

It was not surprising to see so many people unprepared for the long hike - many with open-toed sandals, many without water or even a flashlight. On our return hike from the lava flow back to the car, as we crested a hill, we came across a young girl about 20 years old, alone and crying in the dark. We tried to console her and see if she needed any help - it tourned out that the hike was too long and she did not want to go further, so her friends just left her on this hill in the dark with no flashlight, in the wind with a light rain beginning to fall! At this point she was about 1.75 miles from the car and the same distance to the lava flow - too far to walk alone in the dark with no light. The last group of hikers we saw were starting their hike at 8:00PM - which puts them back at the start somewhere around 1:00AM! Be smart when you hike in Hawaii - nature can be unforgiving.

The hike was definitely worth it - it was a surreal setting with the crowd silent in the dark watching the dramatic lava flow as the sun set in the background. The bright flashes of lava entering the ocean, and the hard-hitting waves pounding the shore mesmerized you. We got back to our car at about 9:00PM and we were starving! I had left me dinner in the car not thinking that I would be hungry long before this - so we chowed down on some stir-fried noodles that we had bought earlier and then drove back to Hilo for the night.

Hike the Pololu Valley

2006-12-19T13:13:00.000-05:00

We revisited the Pololu Valley and hiked down to the bottom once more. Previously, earthquake damage had closed the Pololu Valley trail, but it is once again open - and it is a hike that you must do! The scenery is breath-taking with the rough ocean waves crashing against the sea cliffs and black sand beach on one side, and the densely forrested valley on the other. Like all things on the Big Island, the Pololu Valley is diverse and fertile. From this photo, you can see the series of gorges and valleys from the Pololu Valley (foreground) leading to the Honokane Nui, and eventually to the Waimanu Valley and ending up in the Waipio Valley. We saw swimmers braving the rough waters and a variety of hikers from young kids to older enthusiasts. The hike is an easy one, about 25-minutes from the parking lot at the lookout. Drive north from Kona and take Highway 270 to the end and park at the overlook.

Kiholo Bay, Kona

2006-12-12T02:52:00.000-05:00

I finally found the trail that leads you from Highway 19 to Kiholo Bay. Kiholo Bay is like an oasis surrounded by the barren Kona lava fields and twisted brush and trees. There is a black sand beach on one end and a beautiful tree-lined inlet on the other end. There are various clear-water ponds brimming with fish in and around the bay. You can see Kiholo Bay from the scenic overlook at mile-marker 82 on Highway 19. It's about a one-mile hike from the highway to Kiholo Bay. It wasn't as easy as I thought to find the trail from the parking area on Highway 19 (about miles north of the overlook). I had the parking area coordinates in my GPS (N19.8520, W155.9133), but I still had to search for the faint trail (N19.5104, W155.5449). Then it was fairly easy following the trail towards the ocean. There is a family of wild goats that lives in the brush alongside the trail - keep an eye out for them - I was able to photograph the adult, adolescent and even two of the young "kids". Continuing on the trail you will eventually pass a twisted dried-out trees off to the right of the trail - the trees and underbrush are so dense that taking a short-cut through them proved impossible. The day was pretty hot and I was glad I brought my water bottle with me! I continued past a gated entrance and eventually passed many palm trees a few shallow ponds in the shady beneath the trees, and finally I started to see sand as I approached the shore. I was excited - for the many many times I had spotted this little oasis from the highway, I never knew how to get to this place. I was finally here!