We woke up to our last day on the Big Island with not enough sleep under our eye bags.

SCP Hilo Hotel

Never try to manually rotate the ceiling fan unless you are prepared for the backlash. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kilauea Iki Trail

We drove back to the Volcano National Park to hike through a crater that last erupted in 1959, the year of Statehood.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Going through the ancient rain forest. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Scenic spots along the trail provided views of the contrasting crater floor below us. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

We kept left at several junctions to stay on trail.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Descended over 400′ from the rim down to the crater floor. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Following the ahu (stacked rocks) to stay on trail. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kilauea Iki Trail

No active steam vents were observed when walking on the cracked and texturized surface of the crater floor. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Approaching Pu’u Puai (gushing hill), a cinder cone formed during the 1959 eruption. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Merging with the stream of hikers on the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Aida and Tessa framed by the branches of an ohia lehua tree, which are the first plants to grow out of cooled lava flows. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Reaching the end of the crater floor as the trail started to go back up to the crater rim. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Tessa looking back at the crater floor that was once an active lava lake. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Ohelo bushes help to colonize the volcanic landscape with its mass of fine roots that help to capture water in the ground. Tart when eaten raw and a favorite snack for the Hawaiian nene goose.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Somebody thought that Aida needed a drink of water. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Quan seeking relief from the weathering sun.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Climbing the switch backs to the crater rim.

Kilauea Iki Trail

The ladies met up with two fellow hikers from Oahu on the trail, Andres and Miki. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Popping up at the Thurston Lava Tube parking lot.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Making our way back to the Kilauea Iki overlook, but first the ladies had to sit down.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Looking out to little Kilauea, the pit crater that we had just walked across.

Kilauea Iki Trail

Crawling out of a crack. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

All pau

Making our way back to the Jeep.

Highway Lava Tube

We drove down Highway 11 and eventually parked on a gravel spot to begin our last and short hike. Spray painted white lines pointed us in the right direction.

Highway Lava Tube

The first lava cave branched off to the left of the trail.

Highway Lava Tube

Descending down into the natural conduit formed from receding lava. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Highway Lava Tube

Aida and Tessa decided to stay topside.

Highway Lava Tube

Heading into the drained tube with hanging lava icicles and walls shaped and textured by the molten lava that once flowed through this conduit.

Highway Lava Tube

We continued until the ceiling became lower and turned around. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Highway Lava Tube

Climbing our way back to the light over the rubble strewn path. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

All pau

I inhaled the directions back to the Jeep. Time was running out so we drove back to the airport and flew back home and ended another fun weekend. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Aida, Quan, Tessa and myself flew to the only active volcanic island in the Hawaiian chain for a weekend of hiking and exploring.

Mauna Loa Estates

We landed in Hilo International Airport, picked up our 4×4 Jeep and had a late breakfast at Ken’s House of Pancakes. Checked in at the soon to be Airbnb and then made the long drive to Kalae, the southernmost point in the USA. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Green Sand Beach

Arrived at Papakolea, which is one of four known green sand beaches in the world. The other three are located in Guam, Norway and the Galapagos Islands.

Green Sand Beach

We found out that our 4×4 Jeep wouldn’t cut it on the road to the beach, so we shelled out $20 for a bumpy and bone jarring three mile dusty ride to the beach, driven by a 15 year old who has been driving these beach roads since the tender age of 8.

Green Sand Beach

The driver gave us roughly an hour at the beach before we had to head back. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Green Sand Beach

The beach itself is located in a 49,000 year old cinder cone called Pu’u Mahana. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Green Sand Beach

The green sand is a result of olivine crystals from the constant erosion from the tuff ring above the beach. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Green Sand Beach

Quan enjoying the windy day and watching the surf pound the beach. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Green Sand Beach

Making our way back to the beach. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Green Sand Beach

Shameless promotion plug. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Green Sand Beach

Climbing out of the beach, we decided to hike a nearby hill. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Mahana

Quan enjoying the sweeping views of the beach and ocean. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Pu’u Mahana

Eventually the olivine crystals that give this beach its distinctive color will run out and it will look like any other beach on the island. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Mahana

Standing on top of “warm hill.” It actually felt pretty chilly due to the strong breeze in the area. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Pu’u Mahana

Getting a closer look before we jumped back into the truck for our ride back. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

South Point

We drove past the windmills to check out Kalae or the point which is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

South Point

No jumping today, just sitting down.

South Point

Only the local fishermen were actively using the platforms to catch ulua and red snapper.

South Point

Vise grips can be used almost for anything, including holding your iPhone to take the group photo.

South Point

Climbed down to check out the sea cave. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

South Point

Getting mesmerized by the water rushing in and out of the cave.

South Point

Jumping from here would be a little trickier than jumping off the sea cliff. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

South Point

Finding a puka in the ground before we left.

Hana Hou

We had our late lunch bordering on dinner where we were pegged as locals by the food we ordered.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Stopped to see a different colored beach at Punalu’u which once harbored a pier until automobiles and ocean exposure rendered it obsolete.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

It is believed by some that this place was the original landing spot of the Polynesian settlers from Tahiti. It also was the site for ancient tributes, temples, fishing villages and trails that connected to other villages. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Punalu’u means spring water or diving spring and is home to freshwater springs which mix with the salt water.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

The black sand was made from lava flows that exploded into small, coarse fragments upon contact with the cold ocean water. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Watching water at work as it slowly changes the character of everything it touches over time. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Green Sea Turtles basking on the beach due to the heat that it retains which helps them to regulate their body temperature. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Look but don’t touch. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Never turn your back on the ocean. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

SCP Hilo Hotel

We drove to Volcano National Park to see the current lava eruption but parking was non-existent and visitors were being shunted to a lookout with minimal views, so we turned around and drove down to Hilo to have a late supper at Quan’s cousins restaurant, Van Vietnamese Cuisine. We then checked in and navigated the maze that passed itself off as lodging for the night.

Volcano National Park

Back again. The parking lot was still surprisingly somewhat full close to midnight, but we snagged a stall and started walking down Crater Rim Drive under a canopy of stars.

Volcano National Park

We soon saw the red glow from the lava and detoured off the road to the overlook site.

Volcano National Park

Taking in the raw primal beauty of Madam Pele’s work when a nearby photographer showed us a picture of his “secret spot” which had a better vantage point.

Volcano National Park

We decided to follow the lights we saw further down the road to find the “secret spot.”

Volcano National Park

No street lights on these cracked roads

Volcano National Park

I thought for a minute we were back on Honolulu’s roads. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Volcano National Park

Passing a sign marking one of many flows in this area. Kilauea is one of five volcanoes that form the Big Island and it is the youngest and most active.

Volcano National Park

I briefly thought of trying to jump over the deep crack, but quickly dismissed such a foolish notion.

Volcano National Park

Contouring our way around the break in the road.

Volcano National Park

End of the road. Literally. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Volcano National Park

Peering over the edge, despite unfounded rumors of unstable ground below us. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Volcano National Park

Quan watching lava spew out from a vent inside Halema’uma’u Crater in Kilauea’s summit caldera. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Volcano National Park

Aida watching the lava lake which started on September 29, 2021 and is estimated to contain over 10 billion gallons of molten rock. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Volcano National Park

Matchy-Matchy. The lava lake is over 200′ deep and spreading over 170 acres in size. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

After everybody had gotten their fill of Pele’s fireworks, we walked back down the road to our car to call it a night, actually early morning. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.