OK. One day of relaxing in Hawaii is good. Off to more adventures.
Another early morning start, as we drove north, then east to visit Mauna Kea. We couldn't drive to the summit (requires 4-wheel drive) but we did drive up to the Visitor Center. There is a big military base nearby, and we were thinking that this would be a pretty good assignment for members of the military.
We wanted to explore the east coast of the island, so we headed to the island's largest city, and capitol, Hilo. We stopped at the Liliuokalani Japanese Gardens, and were amazed by a towering Banyan tree.
A stroll through the very relaxing Japanese Gardens, under picture-perfect blue skies, was mesmerizing.
We drove through the waterfront downtown of Hilo, stopping to have a walk along the main road. There are some funky shops, and a few restaurants. But this area is certainly not designed for tourists.
Just outside of town is Rainbow Falls Lookout. Very easy to access, and a 1-minute walk from a spacious parking lot.
Further down the road is another park and water feature - Boiling Pots.
By this time, we were ready for lunch, and since we had to drive through Hilo again, we decided to grab something quick. We found a great takeaway place, and drove to a waterfront park to enjoy lunch.
We had heard that there was a 4 mile long scenic road just off the main road. Pretty easy to find, and Onomea was like a drive into the rainforest. Lush, overgrown foliage lined a curvy road. The road was narrow, with few turnoffs, but where you did find a place to stop, the views were spectacular. We were able to find a spot to park near the Onomea Bay Trail, and took the steep walk down to the waterfront. The trail is adjacent to a Botanical park, and the diversity of foliage is remarkable. This short 4-mile detour was one of the highlights of our day.
Now, lets go see some more waterfalls. A short drive inland, we reached Akaka Falls State Park. This was one of the busiest spots we found this entire week. And, it is rightfully popular. A beautiful paved path through the rainforest allowed us to walk amongst bamboo forests, moss-covered trees, and Banyan trees. The path culminated at Akaka Falls. As beautiful a sight as it was, there were simply too many people clamoring for the perfect selfie. We admired the falls, and cut our visit short.
We had a long drive to reach Waipi'o, and it felt like we were visiting another world. The landscape changed dramatically, with massive pine tree forests. The clouds, mist and rain were surreal. We reached the Waipi'o Valley Lookout, which in the sun would be breathtaking, but in the mist and clouds was otherworldly.
The drive back to Kona took us inland, through the town of Waimea, which felt like a small, town in the middle of Hawaii. This really is Paniolo (cowboy) country.
Back in Kailua-Kona, we had top stop for a snack. In the middle of the waterfront shopping area is a popular shaved ice shop. We had to try Hawaiian shaved ice at least once. Covered in tropical fruit flavors, it lived up to its popularity.
What did we do after enjoying shaved ice? You guessed it: Happy Hour cocktails at our favorite chairs by the sea to witness the sunset. We have seen so many beautiful sunsets around the world. There is something so very special about watching the sun dip below the horizon on the sea. It never gets old.
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