10/09/2019 to 14/09/2019 - Hawaii "Big Island" / Hawaii / USA

The island of Hawaii is also called Big Island. It is the largest island in the group of islands and also the largest island in the United States. It has a very diverse landscape, with volcanoes, light and dark sandy beaches, tropical forests, pastures, waterfalls, and lava fields.

10/09/2019

In the morning, we landed on the west coast in the town of Kailua-Kona. We rented a car because we had 4 days to explore the island and wanted to circle it once. Our first destination was the Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. No. Before that, we took care of a few everyday things. We went to the laundromat and had fresh, very good sushi for lunch at a small restaurant. Then we drove half an hour south to the National Historical Park. A temple complex with various statues and wooden figures. Pu'uhonua is a refuge for Hawaiian lawbreakers. If they could make it here without being caught, they escaped the death penalty. Located idyllically by the sea, we were able to see a bit of Hawaii's history. In the evening, we had booked tickets for the "Voyagers of the Pacific Luau". The term Luau stands for a feast in Hawaii. It is a combination of hula performances and traditional food. A good live band played and we were able to see various traditional dances. A pig was cooked in banana leaves in the earth oven and there was a wide selection of typical Hawaiian dishes. We saw a beautiful sunset and it poured buckets. Everything was offered and we had a nice evening there.

11/09/2019

Today, we started with sleeping in because yesterday was a long day. We spent the night in a room in a private house in the town of Ocean View. Last night it was too dark, but this morning we woke up to beautiful sunshine and actually had a view of the sea. Today we continued south. We reached South Point via the South Point Road. We stood at the southernmost point of the USA. We walked along the coast for a while and then headed to one of Hawaii's black beaches, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. Some people were bathing and snorkeling at this sandy, completely black beach, but it wasn't a place where we wanted to spend much time today. Our next destination was the Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, the rainy weather worsened on the way, so we only got information about the national park for a tour the next day. We continued for a short detour to the Kaumana Caves. These caves are part of a tunnel that was formed in 1881 by the lava flow of the Mauna Loa volcano.

12/09/2019

Today's day was all about the volcanoes of Hawaii. We drove to the Volcanoes National Park in the morning, in beautiful sunshine. The park is a approximately 1,348 square kilometer biosphere reserve, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. We drove along the 31 kilometer long Chain of Craters Road. It leads down to the sea. On the way there, we discovered various craters, looked out over endless lava fields, and saw old roads that were buried by lava flows. When we reached the sea, we enjoyed a great view of the 18 meter high cliff and saw one of Hawaii's most beautiful sea arches. We drove back the same road and made a stop for a hike through the lava landscape and visited steaming openings. The Kīlauea volcano is still active, until mid-last year you could still see hot lava flows on the island. Unfortunately, we are one year too late for that, but nevertheless we were very impressed by this vast landscape shaped by volcanoes.

13/09/2019

We started our day at the Akaka Falls State Park. In this facility, we were able to observe a colorful animal and plant world on a circular path and enjoyed a great view of the 134 meter high waterfall. On the way to our next accommodation, we passed through small towns and drove past beautiful coastal sections. We booked a room at the Enibus Farm in Honoka'a for one night. Various fruits and vegetables are grown here, but the house itself also has a long history. It used to be a dance hall.

14/09/2019

The last day on Hawaii had arrived and a visit to Waipi'o Valley was still on our to-do list. The valley was once home to thousands of Hawaiian natives, but today only 100 remain. You can take long and strenuous hikes into the valley or, as we preferred, enjoy a breathtaking view from a viewpoint 600 meters higher. In the late afternoon, we started the one-hour drive back to Kailua-Kona Airport to fly to our next destination around 11 PM.