A Close look at a Lava Tube

The concept of a lava tube fascinates me. I'd read the novel Kona, by Marjorie Sinclair, when we got here a month ago.  The heroine grows up on the Big Island and playing in the lava tube was as normal as playing in the back yard.  When I found out we were going to visit another lava tube on the next tour, I was excited.  It didn't matter that we were with a group of people again, and that we'd been sitting in the van for hours.  It was another adventure!

The location is near Hilo, on the tropical side of the Island, where we'd been the last time we went on a tour with the Mission Builders. The abundant rainfall, which we've managed to miss each time results in lush rainforest. Huge philodenron vines, you know, the kind that are houseplants back home, twine up the trunks of trees.  Speaking of vines, Terry fulfilled an item on his bucket list by swinging on a sturdy vine in the forest.  In my admiration, I forgot to take a picture!

We were supposed to see a wonderful waterfall called Akaka Falls, but found our access barred as we were told they were looking for a missing man.  Instead, we walked down a jungle trail to another black-sand beach with crashing waves. By the way, the only birds we saw all day were pheasants, and rock pigeons.They were not in the jungle, but on the  lava fields that were already covered in grass on the dry side of the Island.

This is Laupahoehoe Point, a scene of tragedy in 1946.  On April 1, twenty-one schoolchildren and three adults were swept away to their deaths by a tsunami travelling 500 miles per hour, and wiping them out in mere moments.  They had just gone out for break.  After that, officials finally moved the town up the hill.
This is definitely not a swimming beach, but it was fun to watch the surf crashing onto the huge lava rocks

To the right is the beach of the Tarzan vines.

Finally , the entrance to the lava tube!
In 1881 Mauna Loa erupted, and the lava ran twenty-five miles to the sea, creating a long cave, and threatening the town of Hilo.  I'm not sure it's this long any more, as it has probably collapsed in several places. 

I'm ready with my flashlight as we entered the cave, the only time I've actually used my cell phone on the Island.  Ferns and moss grew around the opening, and water dripped from the ceiling.

At first we had to duck down, but were assured the floor levels out beyond this narrow entrance.

Really, the walls were much darker than this picture shows.  Fascinating to rub your hands along the walls to feel the cool, smooth lava, looking like hardened chocolate pudding.  The floor
was rough and porous; no chance of slipping here.
After we'd walked about one hundred metres, a large rock stood in the middle of the path.
"Don't go any further," said our leader, Elijah. "There are big holes beyond this point, and Mission Builders have had to be rescued by helicopter from this site before."
I wish I could post the video Terry took.  You can't see anything; it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your  face, but our rendition of   "How Great Thou Art"  sounded good. 
Not quite the same as being in an acoustics chamber, though, as lava rock is porous.
There were actually long roots growing through the ceiling here.

Close-up of shiny lava rock

One more stop at a fruit stand.  Ten rambutans for three dollars.

 It's kind of like eating a peeled grape, with not much taste.

"I feel like a Hollywood star!" said this smiling lady who hacked off the outer shell of a coconut with her huge machete as we all cheered.  After Leslie-Anne sucked up the coconut water, more blows with the machete and the meat was scooped out and put into a small plastic bag for the eating.  

Another fun adventure on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Volcano Park - Youth Edition

This weekend we signed up for a spot on one of the fifteen passenger Mission Builders vans  for another "field trip".  It was great to leave the driving to someone else, and settle into the first row of bench seats. We retraced some of the same road we`d travelled on before, but approached the Volcano Park from a different angle, crossing the Island on the Saddle Road between Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa, two other volcanoes.
First stop--Hilo, on the east coast, the wettest area of Hawaii Island. 

The Bayfront park used to be the main Japanese district

This area was hit by a tsunami some years ago

"We're going to stop at a cafe to have a famous local specialty," we were told.

It was called  LOCO MOCO.  The traditional version consisted of a hamburger patty on white rice with a fried egg on top.  Opting for the fish version, I was pleasantly surprised to be given, not only the choice of fish, but also a choice of white or brown rice.  As a fast food, it turned out to be relatively healthy, as well as delicious, not to mention cheap.  I had grilled mahi-mahi.
Next stop: the Volcano park again.  The sign by the big crater said, "Air quality is poor today", and the doors to the museum were closed instead of being wide open.

 As well, this big sign warned against getting too close to any cracks or holes in the ground.  This time we looked around the museum.  This is Pele, the goddess of the volcano. 

This is called Pele's hair, spun lava that actually looks like real hair.

One of the young people got us to pose walking down the path together. A beautiful path, with a intertwined canopy overhead and lush fern growth everywhere.

Fiddlehead

Lehua blossom of the 'Ohi'a tree

The young people could hardly wait to get to South Point, the most southerly point in the United States.  They weren't interested in this geographical fact, but in the FUN factor.  Or was it the FEAR factor?

 They wanted to jump off the 30 foot cliff into the sea from this platform, which is really a boat hoist.  Alas, the water wasn't calm, and the leader wouldn't let them.  When the sea is rough, there are strong undercurrents.  We were horrified and fascinated by the sight of this local guy diving into a blow hole.  He had to time it just right, and ended up at the base of the cliff.

Our trip ended with the sighting of several humpback whales surfacing.  A peaceful and pleasant day.

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!

Pololu Valley Lookout

After our hard work in the kitchen for seven straight days in a row, Terry and I were ready for our four day weekend.  On the first day, we explored the area north of Kona in our rented Hyundai Elantra.  The landscape was various kinds of lava fields. If you looked on a topographic map, you could find out which year it was that the lava flowed in that area.  Since the Big island of Hawaii has five volcanoes, that's a lot of lava.

This lava has been there long enough for scrub grass to grow

 Pololu Beach on the north east shore, is covered in fine black sand and rounded lava rocks, 400 feet down the cliffs from the lookout, and is accessed by a steep trail covered in big boulders.  Apparently it's treacherous when rain makes the clay slippery.

It was the middle of the day when we started climbing down.  The walking stick I borrowed from the selection at the top of the trail proved very useful.

Terry crossed this small river that narrowed from a pond in search of birds.  A Great Egret and a Black Crowned Night Heron were captured in his camera lens.

 A small tree clings tenaciously to life amidst the weathered lava rocks.  People used these rocks at one time to build temples, houses, and other structures.  A giant chain of people would pass the rocks up the cliff from hand to hand.

Trying to capture the big wave on my small camera.

We looped our way home on another highway cutting through the middle of the island, past grassy meadows that could've been in the Okanagan.

A good first day off!
By the way, pictures with the date in yellow are from Terry's camera.

Return to YWAM: Kona , Hawaii

       Here we are in Kona, Hawaii!  It's New Year's Eve, and the sound of fireworks and firecrackers in the neighbourhood begins early.  Last night after we arrived I was so exhausted I didn't hear any noise past 9:00 pm.  Hope we can go to sleep soon tonight as well.
      What a weird feeling to go from the extreme cold and abundant snowfall we've experienced in Red Deer, AB, Canada, to walking around in shorts and short shirtsleeves!  Hats and sunscreen instead of double mitts and long underwear!  A different kind of culture shock.
      We were standing around last night with some people when all of a sudden a young girl catapulted herself into my arms to give me a big hug.  After 30 seconds I remembered her name:  Aline from Brazil whom we'd met last year at YWAM (Youth with a Mission), Lausanne, Switzerland.  Also Eli from Texas.  We had all worked in the kitchen together.  This is one of the blessings of this organization--you tend to meet people again in different parts of the world.  The other amazing blessing of the day was meeting someone who'd been in the same class as my brother, three years younger than I am.  On staff here, she recognized me by my maiden name on my application form. Her mum was one of my Sunday School teachers in the town on Vancouver Island, B.C., where we both grew up.   It's a small world, as they say.
      During the first few transition days Terry and I will be working in the kitchen, and after a couple of weeks, he'll be on maintenance.  I'll have a varied schedule of working on the grounds in the cool of the morning, then working in the "boutique" ( where departing students leave all the stuff they don't want ) and also at the main gate, where apparently I'll sit in an air-conditioned booth for a couple of hours and screen people who want to come onto the huge campus.  A new influx of students will be arriving in a few days, and we all begin a new adventure.  Happy New Year!

Grandchildren

Here are our grandchildren in the year 2013.
Our latest addition was Elliston Channing Burnett, born to Nick and Suzanne on July 5.This picture was taken on Matteo's birthday, two days later.

Ellis at four and a half months

Matteo is stocking up the fridge for his birthday party

  Three birthday cakes! What a lucky boy!

Zachary and I rode to Mackenzie Trails Park

Hallowe'en season at Zachary's house

Crepes for breakfast at French Camp

Emma reigns as the only grand-daughter

Grandma and Emma like to read

Caleb is now eleven

Denare Beach, SK