Big Island - Volcano and Black Sand Beach

We made it to Hawaii!  Jesse finished his work in Honolulu on Tuesday and Elliott and I flew out to meet him.  I was dreading the looooooong flight with very active Elliott on my lap but he did so well.  There were so really wonderful strangers along the way who made things so much easier - especially the man next to us on the flight from Chicago to Honolulu.  We arrived at 6:30 pm on Tuesday which was 12:30 am on Wednesday at home.  Elliott lit up when he saw Jesse.  I was a sight to be seen - covered in food remnants and frazzled from the lack of sleep.  We stayed at a sketchy hotel right near the airport for the first night.  Elliott woke up at his normal time, 6:30 am . . . which is 12:30 am in Hawaii!!!  Woah, that was early.  We stayed at the hotel for a bit and then went to the airport to catch our very early flight to Hilo on the Big Island.

After getting groceries and getting settled in our cute rental, which was fortunately ready very early, we all took much needed naps before heading over to Volcanoes National Park.  What an amazing place!  Here are pictures from our day.

First site of Halema'uma'u Crater (say that 10 times fast).  Steam rises from the crater where water contact with the lava.  We couldn't see any lava during the day but you'll see our night view later.


Elliott loves being on Jesse's shoulders.  I don't enjoy having my hair pulled so my shoulders are off limits.

Hmmm, this finger.  Family shot at the crater.

This is actually a crater within a crater.  The outer crater is visible on the right side of this picture.

Elliott enjoying some of the views . . . 

I walked out to this lava flow while Jesse staying in the car with sleeping Elliott.  I think these are spot where lava flowed around trees and created molds.

We then drove down to the coast on Chain of Craters Drive.  This is where you used to be able to see the lava going into the ocean.  It is currently flowing in a different area that is not easily accessible so we didn't go there.  Hmmm, I wonder why the road is closed?

A lava flow within the last 20 years overtook this section of the road.  It's amazing when you consider that this is the creation of new land and the sheer volume of lava that comes out of the volcano. 

Once again, Elliott really enjoyed the view. 

A cool sea arch in the same area.

Back at our rental, E broke out some hilarious dance moves (anyone know the funny sprinkler move??).

He loved these footstools.  Perfect for practicing balancing.

Checking out the Olympics!  Go Phelps!

Knowing that Elliott would be up very early, we planned a predawn trip back to the volcano.  It was only about 10 minutes from our rental.  At 3 am, we were all by ourselves, appreciating the glow of the lava in the crater.  It was chilly before dawn at 4,000 feet of elevation.  Elliott had mixed opinions, mostly about the makeshift hat we put on him.

Lava, steam, and the crater walls. Pretty cool, right?

Jesse and Elliott in front of our rental house.  We were out by 6 am.

On our way west, we passed this sign,  We don't see too many of these at home!  Yes, I am a geology nerd.

Beautiful trees

We then went to Panalu'u Black Sand Beach.  There are only a few of these on the island and it was amazing.  It was especially cool to have the place nearly to ourselves at this early hour.

This makes me smile.

More pictures to come . . . the rest of this post didn't upload properly.