BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII- June 22nd

So after our Pearl Harbor trip we headed over to the Big Island of Hawaii. We arrived and there was a lot of VOG in the air. Vog is a pollution that is created by volcanic gases and pollution in the air. The Kilauea Volcano erupted in March and has been sending gases in the air since that time. Because of the VOG many people have cancelled their trips to the Big Island. Depending on the winds will determine how bad the VOG is. We only noticed the VOG a few times on the island. But it was bad when we first landed.


JUNE 22- Because today was the Sabbath we decided to attend Sacrament meeting in Kona. There is a temple in Kona and a church building next door. We were greeted by youth dressed in pioneer clothing. They had just gotten back from their Trek. It was an awesome meeting and I was brought to tears a few times. Those youth had strong testimoies and were not afraid to share them. The meeting went about a half hour longer then normal but it was full of the spirit and they allowed every single youth to share their testimonies. The kids did the Trek on Parker Ranch. Parker Ranch, in Waimea on Hawaii’s Big Island, was founded in 1847. It is one of the oldest and most historic ranches in the United States. Spreading across approximately 150,000 acres of the island, Parker Ranch is also among the country’s largest cattle ranches. What a fun place to do a pioneer trek.

After church we decided to take a drive to Volanco National Park. We also decided to do many stops on the way. We headed south from Kona and passed Captain Cook. We then head to the most southern part of the Island. It is also the most southern part of the entire United States. So we had to go there and see the beauty. It was so windy down there that all the trees were growing to the side. We drove 12 or so miles off the road so we could go to South Point. There were many fisherman and their families sitting there fishing.

We then went to the black beach at Punaluu. Here is where many sea turtles sun bathe. We were fortunate to see one. At first I thought it was dead. But no, just sleeping. Here is a few pictures of the black sand beaches and the turtle.

Just basking in the sun

Walking on the Black Sand- It had an interesting texture.

The turtle looking at us.

We then arrived at Volcano National Park. We decided to first go to the Ranger's Station to see what we should do. He told us that we had to stay until dark because at night you could actually see the lava flowing. He was so excited. He told us they don't know when it will stop so we need to take the opportunity to see it now. So we first went on a fun hike to another crater (this isn't erupting at the moment).

We took the -Kilauea Iki Trail

The Kilauea Iki Trail starts in the rain forest on the crater's rim. The trail descends 400 feet through the rain forest, with native birds in the canopy, to the crater floor. Hikers then cross the still-steaming crater floor, past the gaping throat of the vent that built Pu'u Pua'i cinder cone, and return to your starting point via the crater's rim. It was a 4 mile hike but well worth it. In fact, it was amazing. You are truly in a rain forst and then get to the crater and it looks like the land of desolation . You walk down a hill and there you are in the crater. AMAZING!!!

Scott in the beauty of the rain forest

Me and a tree???

It was a warm day but the hike was wonderful because we had a misty rain the entire time we were at the National Park. The mist made the journey just that much better. I can't imagine hiking on that volcanic black rock on a really hot day.

Land of Desolation-

Okay-There is a few plants- A very few

After our hike we decided to drive through the park. We couldn't do the entire rim because the road was closed. The smoke from the volcano was covering that road and the gases were just too strong for humans. But they had other cool drives.

A cool Arch in the water

Black volanic rocks completly covered this part of the island. Every year the flow moves and it continues to take up areas of the island. There is actually another island growing a few miles off the Big Island. In around 100,000 years you could come and see it.

This is an amazing spot. A few years ago they had a road through here. One of the flows completly took over the road and it is now NOT a road. Here we are sitting in the middle of the Lava covered road.

Here is a picture of when it actually happened.

So after our fun drive, we headed to one of the Jaggar Museum so we could see Kilauea's lava flow. We waited until about 7:15 to see it (because it was finally dark enough to see). They have telescopes so you can get a close up. It was awesome to see nature at work. Here is the Volcano and all it's steam.



Just this past Sunday it eruped even more. Here'w what FOX News said about it,

"A huge fountain of lava spurting from the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii has scientists scratching their heads in disbelief.

They said they haven't seen anything like the geyser, which began shooting from the volcano's lava flow near the summit just after 11 p.m. Sunday, in more than a year, KITV reported.

The lava wave measures about 40 feet high and erupted about six miles from the ocean, according to KITV"

TOO bad, we missed it by just a few days.