Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The next day, we drove south from Kona towards Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Various ecosystems ranged from lush tropical rainforests to grassy fields and newer lava fields with black shiny hardened lava. 

The Nene, an endangered Hawaiian goose approaches the car at the side of the road.  This one had obviously been fed and was looking for a handout.

Steam rises from water collecting underground and heating up

The Kilauea Volcano has been steaming continuously since 1983.  A caldera is a cauldron- like volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. 

Hardened lava forms the floor, and vegetation springs up around it.

Terry tried so hard to get a shot of a beautiful small red bird, the Apapane, but although there were many, they didn't perch long enough for a picture.

Giant fiddleheads ready to unfurl.  The golden brown matter underneath, as soft as the softest plush toy, is actually used for dressings on wounds. 

Molten lava flows through harder rock to the sea.  These long tunnels are called lava tubes.  This one was down in the rainforest area of the park.

Then we drove down the Chain of Craters Road to the sea.  The shoreline is rugged; high cliffs again.

Holei Sea Arch

Lava covered the road, blocking it off to further traffic.  We had to walk  in the heat to get to this point.  Even the little kiosk selling refreshments wasn't really permanent but had had to be moved several times.

Terry takes a picture of the "road closed" sign.

I thought this was breadfruit, but it's actually Noni  (morinda citrifolia), also called cheese fruit or vomit fruit..  It's hard to imagine eating it as it ripens because of the smell! Apparently it's high in Vitamin A, protein, iron and calcium. It grew there among the lava, and is also found on a large tree at Hale Ola, the apartment complex where the Mission Builders are staying.  I wondered why no one was paying any attention to it; now I know!
On the way home we had fish and chips; the fish was "ono" in Hawaiian, a deep sea fish whose English name is "wahoo".  Absolutely fresh and delicious!