Another Hawaii Trip...the Big Islands

Can't believe it has already been a year since I was here last. This time, no tennis tournament, so I got time to travel to the Big Island.

But before heading off to the Big Island, I spent a day or so in Honolulu and did some hiking. Not a lot is different here except I see some of the native Hawaiian tennis players whom I met last year here.


On Oahu's Diamond Head, overlooking parts of Honolulu

I flew into the Big Islands via Hilo, then drove southward toward Puna. This area is close to the active flowing lava. I was a bit of a chicken, so I did not take a chance going to watch the lava flow. At the B&B place I stayed, there was horror story of a group of folks who did not follow some tour guide and ventured off to the lava flow. They got lost and were standing on unsafe soil. That kind of creeped me out.


Caves where Lava flowed...I'm actually claustrophobic :S

There are lots of construction going on here. Many people who retire from the mainland move here and build houses to live. They are pretty cheap, but the fact that there are possibilities that you house might be in the path of some new lava flow did not go well with me. Like California's Seismic Zones, Hawaii have Lava Zones. Much of Puna is new land as a result of lava flows that turned to rock. One doesn't see a whole lot of plants growing.

Next stop was Kona. It is just beautiful here!! While Puna was all cloudy and occasional heavy showers, Kona was bright and sunny. The place is full of hotels and resorts. I wish I had tennis rackets and some friends to play tennis with. So relaxing...just look at the sunset!!!


Sunset at Kona

Finally, I am back to Hilo. It is a small town with lots and lots of retirees. Not a whole lot to see, except parks and river flows and more lava tunnels.


Proud Cal Poly Mustang

And this concludes my one week plus trip to Hawaii. Like last year, while I am away, more construction is happening at home....