Hilo and Volcano Feb 15-17, 2022

Taking advantage of our extended vacation, we hopped over to the Big Island for an overnight stay in Hilo and a chance to see the activity at Volcanoes National Park.
HiloVolcano-001 Yep, we're not in Kansas (or Kauai) anymore. Time for a quick 24 hour hop over to Hilo and Volcano to check things out since it's been more than 20 years since...
1 Yep, we're not in Kansas (or Kauai) anymore. Time for a quick 24 hour hop over to Hilo and Volcano to check things out since it's been more than 20 years since…
HiloVolcano-003 Our base for the night was the SCP right on Hilo Bay, a funky eco-conscious hotel
2 Our base for the night was the SCP right on Hilo Bay, a funky eco-conscious hotel
HiloVolcano-004 Drive-in local-style at Verna's with their take on the classic Hawaiian pidgin philosophy
3 Drive-in local-style at Verna's with their take on the classic Hawaiian pidgin philosophy "if can, can. If no can, no can" which loosely translates to "if I get…
HiloVolcano-005 We didn't stop at Verna's since our lunch destination was across the street at the Hilo institution Ken's House of Pancakes. And yes, they serve pancakes 24/7,...
4 We didn't stop at Verna's since our lunch destination was across the street at the Hilo institution Ken's House of Pancakes. And yes, they serve pancakes 24/7,…
HiloVolcano-006 The front of Ken's menu looks somewhat benign with really affordable prices
5 The front of Ken's menu looks somewhat benign with really affordable prices
HiloVolcano-007 It's the back of the menu that
6 It's the back of the menu that "slap u side a da head" with their answer to "super-size me" being "sumo-size me"! OMG, it is impossible to imagine a bowl of…
HiloVolcano-009 Just to emphasize the sumo-size portions was this guy leering over our table
7 Just to emphasize the sumo-size portions was this guy leering over our table
HiloVolcano-010 After 3+ weeks in Hawaii, my deprivation was alleviated by Ken's awesome stack of mac-niut pancakes with a choice of coconuy and lilikoi (passionfruit) syrups....
8 After 3+ weeks in Hawaii, my deprivation was alleviated by Ken's awesome stack of mac-niut pancakes with a choice of coconuy and lilikoi (passionfruit) syrups.…
HiloVolcano-011 After lunch we drove to Volcano and our first stop was the Kilauea Overlook
9 After lunch we drove to Volcano and our first stop was the Kilauea Overlook
HiloVolcano-012 Okay, I get that steam vents and cliffs = bad, but earth cracks are a danger I hadn't thought of before. And I hope the poor guy that posed for the unstable...
10 Okay, I get that steam vents and cliffs = bad, but earth cracks are a danger I hadn't thought of before. And I hope the poor guy that posed for the unstable…
HiloVolcano-013 Now this diagram makes it clearer on what to look out for when it comes to
11 Now this diagram makes it clearer on what to look out for when it comes to "earth cracks". I'm surprised that the model had some unbroken bones left to pose for…
HiloVolcano-015 A rainbow and the slight tinge of a second one greeted our first view of the crater. Most of what you see is an old lava lake, although you can see some puffs...
12 A rainbow and the slight tinge of a second one greeted our first view of the crater. Most of what you see is an old lava lake, although you can see some puffs…
HiloVolcano-016 The floor of the old crater then descends into Halemaumau which is the currently active zone
13 The floor of the old crater then descends into Halemaumau which is the currently active zone
HiloVolcano-020 The enormity of the crater is mind-blowing as you look down at the different levels that eruptions have occurred over millennia.
14 The enormity of the crater is mind-blowing as you look down at the different levels that eruptions have occurred over millennia.
HiloVolcano-021 There are those earth cracks they warned us about, along with the sulfurous steam vents
15 There are those earth cracks they warned us about, along with the sulfurous steam vents
HiloVolcano-024 A slightly higher viewpoint gives a better view into Halemaumau
16 A slightly higher viewpoint gives a better view into Halemaumau
Kilauea Overlook Kilauea Overlook
17 Kilauea Overlook
HiloVolcano-027 The leis in this tree on the crater rim are for a man who didn't heed the warning signs, went off-piste, ended up falling 100 ft into the crater, and had to be...
18 The leis in this tree on the crater rim are for a man who didn't heed the warning signs, went off-piste, ended up falling 100 ft into the crater, and had to be…
HiloVolcano-028 The rain clouds moved in so we sought some shelter by hiking down to the 500 year old Thurston lava tube
19 The rain clouds moved in so we sought some shelter by hiking down to the 500 year old Thurston lava tube
HiloVolcano-031 The entrance to the lava tube
20 The entrance to the lava tube