Big Island Adventure - Part I

This is Akaka falls just north of Hilo. It is a sweet water fall that is a breeze to walk to.

It is really amazing to think how this waterfall has carved the rock wall and basin over the few thousand years it has been here.

Our campsite at Spencer's beach was quite beautiful once the 20-30 mph winds stopped blowing. When we arrived here late in the afternoon we were exhausted from our two flights and 3 hour drive across the island to the campsite. The wind was so horrible it took us over 30 minutes to set up this simple tent. At one point Etel was contemplating sleeping in the van we rented and I found myself apologizing to her for the misery we were enduring.

Here is Etel on the second day lounging in our backyard. The trees around the campsite were amazing, all knotted and twisted. How they survive so close to the ocean is beyond me. In the evenings In the shallow water behind her we would see young sea turtles grazing on sea weed.

This is a closeup of the ground where we made our campsite, it was rocky and uneven. I hauled in 3 trunks of sand from the beach to make a spot smooth enough to place the tent.

Yeah, its a lava island, what was I expecting???

Looking down the shore at Spencer's Beach Park. It is a sweet little beach but a bit too boring for my kids. No waves and the snorkling is not too good, but we are spoiled by the awesome snorkling at Kauai.

You are looking a side view of Pu' ukohola heiau, an ancient ceremonial site north of Kona. It is a massive structure built by stacked lava rocks

To the left of this photograph is a small bay that this temple overlooks. In ancient times a chief would sit on a stone pedestal and watch human sacrifices to black-tipped sharks that congregate in the bay. We went down to the bay on the morning of the last day to see if there were any sharks there and in fact we did see the dorsal fins of two sharks cutting through the water. It was most awesome.

Sunset at Spencer Beach Park. I have no idea why I attempt to take family pictures when I have a 5 year old in the mix. You know how the presence of facial hair and voice changes indicate the onset of male puberty? Well I think the expression of goofy faces when a camera appears indicates the male has reached the age of 5 years old.