HAWAII- Day 5- More Relaxation and Baseball

  From our "upgraded evacuation room", we ate our cartons of cereal in our room, then headed over to the King's Shopping Center to check it out.

Partial Ocean View Evacuation Room

Hibicus at the Shopping Center

We enjoyed Fish and Chips and Tempura while overlooking a lake and enjoyed the Koi.

Lake

Hungry Koi

Hungry Birds

As the World Series was about to start, we walked back across the street, and spent the afternoon in our room watching the game. 

World Series Award

We had cocktails on our balcony and watched the sun go down.

Sunset from our room

Dinner was at the Marriott dining room- Lobster night. It was very good, however, I shared my lobster with Morris the cat, who woke up from his nap close by when I called him. Poor Morris, although allegedly belonging to a neighbor, seems to have had a rough life, with an ear injured and a bad mouth- probably bad teeth. The hotel people seem to accept him hanging around however.

Morris

It was nice to be able to relax for the day, and we are so proud of the Giants.

HAWAII- Day 4- From Visit to Tsunami Museum to Evacuating for Tsunami Warning

The morning started with our plan to drive over the Saddle Road, mid Hawaii island, to make our way over to Hilo- about 80 miles.
We stopped for breakfast at Dave's, a joint recommended on Trip Advisor for cheap breakfasts.

Dave's

The drive started at sea level and went up to almost 7000 ft above sea level, going through various flora depending upon the elevation.

First change from the all volcanic rock

Around 3000 feet

Around 6000 feet- reminded us of Tehatchapi high desert

We arrived in Hilo earlier than expected, so based on AAA "GEM" recommendations, we went to the Tsunami Museum.  There was a wonderful film about the 1946 and 1961 Tsunami damage in Hilo, and expressing that it was "time" for another Tsunami to hit Hilo.
At 1:15 we arrived at the airport for our Helicopter ride over the volcano and waterfalls.  The helicopter vibrations just about "did me in", as well as the lack of air, but I managed to survive the 45 minute flight. I don't remember the vibration from our Alaska glacier helicopter ride.

Survival after the flight.

The views over the volcano were interesting...

Blue Hawaii Helicopters Pilot Adam

Heading out over the ocean before over the volcano

Steam vents

Close up lava- yes we were close

Fiery spots

More active areas

Waterfalls

After the flight, we headed back from Hilo to Waikoloa via the northern route around the island, listening to the Giants ballgame until we lost reception. We arrived back at the hotel just in time for the last inning and the Giant win. Also on the TV was the "potential" tsunami from the earthquake in BC. We checked with the hotel, and they said "not to worry". So ...
as we had not had our weekly sashimi yet, we headed on over to the Queen's Marketplace to the Japanese restaurant. We had ordered our food and just received it when we were told by our server, that we needed to finish up quickly because the restaurant was evacuating.  So we stuffed down our expensive food, and headed back to the hotel.
After checking at reception, we were told that this hotel is in the "safe zone" (although it is pretty much on the shore) and that if we wished, we could be evacuated to an upper floor (from our 3rd floor garden view room). So we said, sure, after having seen everything at the Tsunami museum earlier, and we were moved to the 5th floor- pool view- and some ocean view- room. So 4 trips moved all our stuff by 10:00 PM with a 10:28 expectation of the tsunami to hit.

Watching on TV

Well, 10:28 came and went with no tsunami. Today's reports are no damage, but unfortunately a few people were killed in accidents in the evacuations on Oahu.
About midnight, we fell asleep, having had a very busy day.

HAWAI'I DAY 3- Round the Island Tour

The day started not quite as early as yesterday, with Elaine awakening after the sun had risen. Today looked like it would be a beautiful day.

The Morning From Our Room

A 9 AM pickup was scheduled with Roberts Tours, for a 309 mile, 11 hour tour around the island of Hawai'i.

The Bus- pretty comfortable

Vincent Our Driver. He talked constantly ALL DAY. Very knowledgable.

We headed north east toward Hilo, where there is the most rain in the US. However, it hasn't been raining for a few days, so the waterfalls are a bit short of water.

Pretty Falls. 

After an hour driving, we stopped for Portugese Donuts- Malasadas- which are filled donuts- I had bavarian cream and Philip had Raspberry. So much for dieting.

A hour more driving for a stop at the Chocolate Factory in Hilo- along with a free tasting.

Workers at the Big Island Chocolate factory "hand dipping"

A visit to Rainbow Falls, and lunch at the University Astronomy Center completed our time in Hilo.

Rainbow Falls

A short nap occurred while we headed up to the Volcanoes National Park to see the Caldera and crater near  the Jaggar Museum.  Tomorrow we will see it from the helicopter.

The Crater 

Caldera from a distance.

 Next we went for a short walk through the Thurston Lava Tube. Stories about the Lava Tubes and the impact they have on the state were fascinating.

Walking down in the tropical rain forest to the Lava Tube.

Inside the Lava tube- fortunately no lava flowing today, 

Elaine in the lava tube.

Another hour of driving to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach, where the turtles sleep on the beach to "warm up".

Philip on the Black Sand Beach

Sleeping Turtle

Elaine on the Beach

Interesting tree

Continuing our drive around to the Kona Coast, we stopped for a taste of 100% Kona Coffee and watching the Kona Sunset.

Kona Sunset- 

After driving through the Kona Hotels to drop off people, then going to the airport to drop off the "Day trippers" who had flown to this island just for this tour, we decided we really liked our quiet hotel up further north.  
After all these snacks, we decided dinner would be light, so we had enjoyed a salad and some of our chocolates.

Dinner

The Chocolate

HAWAII DAY 2- Kohala Coast and North Kohala

Last night we were invited to an Island Orientation for 0830 today that we debated attending. We expected a time share pitch or something similar. I awakened at 0800 and encouraged Philip to hurry up and get ready. Once he was sitting on the side of the bed, he informed me that the clock in the room said 0610, not 0800.  Guess I had read my watch upside down. So I showered, and he went back to bed. The sun was just rising, so  I sat out on the deck with my coffee and read a book until the "real" 0800.

Expecting to eat some of our breakfasts in our room, we had purchased blue berry pastries. I helped myself to one to eat on the balcony, which necessitated sharing the crumbs with several birds who were happy that I dropped so many crumbs.

After listening to the Orientation spiel, we signed up for an Around the Island Tour tomorrow, and a helicopter ride over the Volcano on Saturday. So their sales pitch worked on us...

With about five spare hours before the Giants game started this afternoon,  we took a walk around the hotel prior to we heading north up the Kohala Coast. 

Philip and Elaine walk around the grounds

Marriott Waikokoa Beach Resort

Kohala Coast

Pu'ukohola Heiau view

Maui from Big Island

King Kamehamheha Statue in  Kapa'au

Pololu Valley Lookout

Over Kaaoau Mountain Road

Sunset back at the hotel

Self Portraits at Dinner

View from our dinner table 

Maui French Onion Soup

Morris the hotel cat 

Fish Linguini

Mahi Mahi