After spending nine nights on Kauai, we flew to the Big Island for five nights. Two were spent on the east side so we could visit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Everything about the eastern part of the Big Island was different from that of Kauai. And Volcanoes was one of the most unique places we’ve ever been.
Kilauea Caldera
Ohi’a Tree
We took a cool trail with sulfurous crystal rocks and some cool plants. (Not too many birds.)
We saw a lot of these signs warning us about the high levels of gas.
We also visited the Thurston Lava Tube which was formed by lava that left a tunnel through the rock in a native forest.
We also made it to the end of the road where lava had covered it and made it inaccessible. It was worth the long drive down to the ocean because we saw Holei Sea Arch and several pairs of Black Noddies that nest along the cliffs.
Wow! I love that lava tube! Very cool.