Hawaii -- Day 4 morning

Brian was pretty consistently the early riser, so we had a lot of early morning walks.  It was nice to explore the beach while it was still quiet.  This picture really shows how some areas had a lot of lava rocks...not so good for walking on the sand, but a lot of fun for building. 

The sun starting to rise over the mountain.  This is the fishpond that was behind the beach. 

We saw a bird waiting to catch some fish.

The ponds are connected to the ocean through this canal; the idea is that little fish can swim in, but when they grow bigger they can't get out through the grate at the entrance.  Early aquaculture!

I like these pictures... me taking a picture and the picture I took.  :)

 

Me and Brian on the beach... our lovely walk was cut short by a dead fish on the beach that freaked him out, but we won't go into that. 

Breakfast on the lanai was a lovely way to start the day! 

Calvin found a plumeria flower and gave it to Eli... doesn't he look beautiful?

Monday was a serious driving day.  We got in the car in the morning and drove around the whole island.  First stop was an overlook of the Waipi'o Valley, which you can't drive into.  It's one of the last undeveloped parts of Hawaii, where they still have taro farms.  (Clicking on the pictures makes them bigger; the panoramas look much better that way!)

Eli looking out over the valley.

The kids were not too excited about the view of the valley but they enjoyed getting out of the car and climbing on the tables. 

We saw lots of lizards, which was pretty good entertainment.  This one was on a banana flower; do you see it?

We drove a while longer and stopped to see Akaka falls.  We almost didn't go on the trail, but I'm glad we did.  The view from close by was much better.  Here is my Akaka falls lookout:

We got rained on, and I mean RAINED on, in a tropical rainforest kind of way. 

 

The whole valley was beautiful to see.  It's so interesting (at least to me) how lush and tropical one side of the island is, and how barren and arid the other side is. 

Me, Calvin, and Eli, looking like drowned rats.

Me and Eli at another little waterfall:

Then we got in the car again, and drove to Volcanoes National Park...to be continued!