Day 15: Going Back in Time!

Due to crossing the International Date Line heading east, we arrived in Honolulu around 11 pm on Jan. 12. We were able to 'relive' Jan. 13 all over. We left New Zealand on the 13th. It makes up for it for not being able to have a New Years Day when the adventure started. We got a little sleep in Honolulu then were up early to catch a flight to Hilo which is located on the Big Island.

The Wolfe's met us at the airport with a traditional Hawaiian lei. We headed to Arnot's lodge to drop off our stuff before seeing the sights along the Scenic Coast Lookout Road. Unlike in New Zealand, we're able to spend more than one or two nights at a given place. For 3 nights we'll call Arnot's our home then we'll head to the Kona coast for a few nights and cap off our Hawaii portion of the trip at the Kileau Military Camp for 4 nights. I'm looking forward to not having to ride in a van for endless hours of the a day.

We stopped along a one-way bridge to view the tropial rainforest. This forest is located on the east side of the Big Island. The lianas have air roots which will obtain nutrients while other plants have adaptations for getting what they need. The Philidendron has cuts in its leaves to obtain sunlight. The Strangular Fig begins as an epiphyte and grows around another tree, usually a softwood tree, until it squeezes and kills the host tree.

We continued on to Akaka Falls where the most runoff on the island happen. The basaltic rock is weathered in spots and creates waterfalls. Spotted edible giner, huge bambo areas, impatients, Sugar Cane fields, white orchids and Banyan trees on our way to Laupahoehoe Harbor.

At Laupahoehoe Harbor, we saw why Hawaii is called the Rainbow state. As the waves were crashing into the volcanic coastline, a beautiful double rainbow was seen in the area. The harbor is the sight where a tsunami hit on April 1, 1946 wiping out a school. A memorial is dedicated to the lives lost due to the tsuami. Laupahoehoe means "Turing Lava" and you can see the evidence of the lava along with the coastline.

We stopped at a farmers market and experienced many local fruits and flowers. Tried the Rabuton and other fruit. Doc picked up a white pineapple for us to try. It is much better than the Dole yellow pineapple. Too bad it's not marketed and exported because it was delicious.