Kona-day 6 Volcano day

We drove 2 hours to the Volcano National Park to see this (see above) - a steam vent inside this huge caldera (bigger than a crater).
Dad is standing in front of another steam vent. The steam pouring out of it was very hot and when you bent over just slightly, your glasses immediately fogged up.


The former steam vent closer.

Apparently at night, the crater glows from the lava deep inside the steam vent. When Mark Twin visited this place many years ago-he went down to the crater which was a lake of lava. Your father was very envious of Mark Twain's experience and highly unimpressed with our volcano experience. He was really hoping to see flowing lava. We saw more lava when we took our helicopter tour a few years ago.

The only lava flowing right now is on private property far away by the ocean - oh well.
More of the caldera; it is really huge.
Dad inviting me into the Thurston lava tube-pretty interesting.
Here we go. There was water dripping on us but it was nice and cool inside.

It was a short walk and when you come out, you enter a rainforest study area.

We left the volcano park and headed to Hilo. We had a late lunch at a very good restaurant in a strip mall. The decor and food were nothing like what you think you'd find in a strip mall. We then headed over to Rainbow Falls which weren't spectacular and then over to Pe'epe'e Falls (Boiling Pots) supposedly when it rains the pools look like boiling pots of water (they reminded me of the 7 sacred pools on Maui). What is amazing is that both of them are surrounded my little neighborhoods.
Rainbow Falls
Boiling Pots
We headed back on the road which takes you to Mauna Kea. It was so clear, we debated trying again. The next picture shows the huge telescopes up there.