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