Spring Break –  a chance to get away to warmer weather.

Day One – departed MN at 1 pm CDT, layover in LA and arrived in Kona at 8 pm HST – long day!

Flying into LAX

Ancient Fish Pond along shoreline

Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort

Day Two – over an inch of rain made for a wet day but a stunning sunset.

Rainy Day

Sunset over Waikoloa Beach

Day Three – Lavaman Triathlon start and finish were on the beach  outside our lanai.  We watched, but did not participate – drove to see the Pololu Valley and northwest coast line instead.

Lavaman Triathlon

Kapa’au Coastline

Kapa’au coastline

Kekea Beach

Kamehameha I statue

Day Four – drove to Hilo, still overcast, but we were able to see Rainbow Falls and Pe’epe’e Falls before the rain fell. Another gorgeous sunset.

Rainbow Falls

Pe’epe’e Falls

Sunset

Day Five – a long walk by the villa lead to finding several very friendly resort cats!

Day Six – Long walk along the beach, drive into Kona, and more time at the beach.

Day Seven – Volcano National Park, Ki’lauea Crater, Thurson Lava Tube and Chain of Craters Road.

Ki’lauea Caldera

Ki’lauea Iki Crater

Thurston Lava Tube

Lua Many Crater

Stone arch at the end of the Chain of Crater’s Road

Day Eight – Helicopter Ride and Petroglyph Field

Pu’u O’o Vent

Pu’u O’o Vent

Surface Lava Flow

Moana Loa Macadamia Nut Farm

Hamakua Coast

Waterfall in the Waimanu Valley

Beautiful Flowering Bushes everywhere

Petroglyphs along King’s Trail

Another Petroglyph

Day Nine – Drove to Ka Lae, also known as South Point, is the most southerly piece of ground in the US and Flight Home.

Ka Lae

Dan enjoying the view