Katie

Hawaii contains many beautiful waterfalls and so we spend a day to visit some of the major waterfall in Big Island.

Rainbow Fall- a few steps from parking lot. It’s closed to Hilo downtown. In the early morning, you can see a rainbow on the bottom of the fall.

Pee Pee Fall (half mile from rainbow fall) We visit this fall mainly because of its interesting name

Akaka Fall-a 442 ft. tall waterfall. ‘Akaka is the Hawaiian name for this feature. “‘Akaka” means “A rent, split, chink, separation; to crack, split, scale”

Kahuna Falls - Fall next to Akaka Fall.

Waipio Valley & Hiilawe Fall:
Hi’ilawe Falls is the most famous waterfall in Waipio Valley. The falls is between 1,200 feet tall, making it the tallest waterfall in the state of Hawaii. It is located inside Waipio Valley and is only visible from the valley or from the air. If you hike down into the valley, the waterfall is visible via a 20 minute walk along the road to the left. As a matter of fact, we spend 1.5 hours to hike down and decided to make a right turn to immures ourselves in the black sand beach for rest and lunch.

We hiked down this 25% grade in 1.5 hours and we are lucky enough to have locals offer us a lift. Otherwise, there are another 2 or 3 hours to returning uphill

Black Sand Beach..

Of all the marvels that Hawaii offers, non equals the awe-inspiring majesty and raw brutal power of the active volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At roughly 333,000 acres, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is larger than the island of Molokai and its landscape is more varied-with black lava deserts, rain forests, grassy coastal plains, snowy summits and more.

Start your visit at the Kilauea Visitor Center located just beyond the park’s entrance station. It is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Here, you will receive the latest information on trails, ranger-led activities, road conditions, and safety precautions. Remember there is a 25 mins film that tell you about the story of Hawaii Volcanoes in the visitor center.

This incredible 11-miles loop road skirts the rim of Kilauea Caldera. Don’t miss it. Also, since it’s relatively level, it’s the park’s best road for cyclists. This description starts at the visitor center and goes counterclockwise. um… Let’s planning a visit..Let’s check out item 1,2,3,6 .. due to the road close, we are not able to visit 5 & 6

Lava Desert…

Hiking about 20 mins on the road and we see the road closed by lava.

then we walked on the lava…

even sit on the lava.

Hawaiian volcanoes produce predominantly two types of lava, pāhoehoe and ʻaʻā. Pāhoehoe is a highly pliable, thin type of relatively fast-flowing lava. Aʻā flow, however, is characterized by a jagged, ruffled appearance compared to the smooth-flowing pāhoehoe flows.

Yeah…we arrived Sea arch of lava, caused by erosive wave action, near the flowing lava site

Next stop: Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The step mark on the right wall shows where the lava flowed for a period of time

Inside the Thurston Lava Tube

Short trail but nice to walk in the rain forests

Next stop..Not remember if it is Kilauea Overlook or Halemaumau Overlook…Anyway, it’s lookout point that viewing hot lava

Next Stop…Steam Vents!

Changes in the eruption of Kilauea in June and July, 2007 led to new vents opening to the east of Pu‘u ‘O‘o (12 miles east of the summit) and outside the Park. As it is outside the park, we headed out of the park and back down Volcano Highway (Hwy 11). Turn onto Highway 130 at Keaau; go past Pahoa to the end of the road. It’s take about half an hour and from there, it’s about a mile walk over sharp crusted lava and here we go another lava overlook point.

We arrived there around 7pm.. perfect timing XD

The Volcano After Dark…

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park- http://www.nps.gov/havo/
Fee: 7 days pass per car $10

Tips:
-Air quality is a constant issue. Check on park weather, road closures and lava viewing conditions before the visit
-Note that the nearest gas is in Volcano Villages.
-If you want to view lava at dark, remember to bring the flash light

Big Island climates are fairly stable year-round. It’s cooler as you move inland and up and it’s wetter on the windward northeast coasts. The western Kona Coast is preferentially sunny and usually hot, though go a few miles upland into coffee country and the air is considerably cooler. The first day we arrived in Hilo, the east coast of Big Island, and it’s raining! As we drive inland towards the south, the rain stopped :O It appear that the weather is hard to predict as it’s always predict as “sunny, with a chance of rain”

We stay in Hale Pu’uhonua- A 3 bed  2 bath open kitchen, pool, high ceiling house, a few step to ocean. We stay for 6 days and 5 nights and it’s only charges us $270.Thanks to one of our friend won a drawing to get this in discount. It’s a great home and quiet close to Walmart and Hilo Airport.

Master room

Second bedroom

Third bedroom

Dinning room

Ocean view!

A 1 mins walk from the house to the ocean..

Hale Pu’uhonua-  http://www.hpvacationrentals.com/

Tips:
-There is a Walmart near Hilo airport. It’s cheaper to buy food or swimming tool there.
-From east coast to west coast where beaches are spend you almost two hours. So if you are planing to spend couple days for water activities, it’s better to stay at East coast

A nonprofit theme park showcasing the cultures of Polynesia. It’s one of the biggest attractions in Oahu. I originally planed to go to Hanauma Bay but I don’t want to miss the Alii Luau show and also experienced & learn about the difference cultures. I scarified Hanauma Bay but it’s a right choice since I also did the snorkeling in Bid Island.

The park has seven theme villages representing: Samoa, New Sealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, Marquesas, Hawaii. It’s have activities, exhibits in difference villages.

Demonstrating coconut frond weaving, dances, games… I got a free hat that made of leaf in this show as a gift

Activities inside the “house”…

Picture with Fiji folks…

Learning the Hawaii dace.. one of the culture actives to experience Polynesian cutlure

I liked this afternoon talent show. I just sit near river with my ice cream watching them preforming difference culture dance

Alii Luau Show.. wounderful

Dancing..

It’s outdoor.. getting cold at night…

Polynesian Culture Center- www.polynesia.com

Admission: Depands on the pakage. I joined the Alii Lua Package with IMAX theater ocean theme movies+buffet+Alii Luau Show+Hotel pick up. It’s about $100

Oahu, the most populous of the islands in Hawaii, is the Capital of the state. Wakiki is one of the best known beaches in the world, as wells as Pearl Harbor.

Wakiki beach… a surfer paradise

It’s a “walking” beach.. Crystal clear water, soft & white sand..

The ocean front Hotel “Western Moana Surfrider” is a perfect place to stay. They greet you with the flower lei & tea, and have their private beach in Wakik; in the hub in Kalakaua Ave & shopping center;in front of international market.

A traditional flower lei greeting from Moana Surfrider.. Aloha!

So relaxing… The first day we basically check in & laid back

The back of the Hotel… with private beach area

One of the most significant WWII attractions in the USA, Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona presents the history of the Pearl Harbor attack and commemorates the fallen services member. Run by the National Park Services, the memorial visitor center provided a about 20 mins documentary films at mainland visitor center and USS Arizona at offshore shrine.

USS Arizona Memorial-300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850

Admission to the memorial is FREE. Programs begin at 7:45 a.m. bu the last program each day begins at 3:00 p.m. Make sure to be there before 3 p.m. if you are planing a visit.

Battleship Missouri Memorial
If you are a history buff or never been in the battleship before, The USS Missouri is a worthwhile sight. It’s just docked next to USS Arizona Memorial.

The 887ft-long USS Missouri launched near the end of WWII and served as a flagship during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In 1945, the formal Japanese surrender that ended WWII took place on the battleship’s deck.

Many exhibits on the battleship…
USS Missouri - http://www.ussmissouri.org/
Admission: Adult $15 Child $8 There is a shuttle bus picks up visitors fromm USS Bowfin Park from 9am to 5pm to USS Missouri

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park- www.bowfin.org
Admission: Adult $10 Child $4 Museum only combination ticket with USS MIssouri Adult $21 Child $11
If time allowed, you can visit USS Bowfin which run by a private nonprofit organization.

Tips:
-Taxi from airport to Wakiki Kalakaua Ave about $40 US. It’s convience and cheap if you take it with a group of friends and share the cost.
-Get the couple book & travel magazine once you arrived airport. There are a lot of good deal and info
-Many local tour are offered in Oahu e.g. About $35 tour to Pearl Harbor (USS Airizona, USS Bowfin, USS Missouri) About $15 tour to Hanauma Bay for sholeking…

Spring is a great flower season and many kind of flower bloom in March and late April. The Flower Fields is a 50-acre rainbow of beautiful ranunculus flowers set on a hillside that overlooks the striking Carlsbad California coastline. It’s just next to ocean, outlet and legoland. I went there last week and the flower is still look great!

The Flower Fields

Where:5704 Paseo Del Norte,Carlsbad, CA 92008

Fee: $10 for audit and $1 off with AAA discount!

So colorful! I am in the middle of Hot pink flower!

and I am in the middle of light pink flower..

I am currently searching a house, a dream house, but not this one tho XD

My families and I drove 3 hours away from Los Angeles to a city of nowhere with a population of 2000. You can bike, ski, hiking,fishing without pollution or seeing people around. I ride a bike for an hours in the rough road in the city.. only seeing two kids passing by with their BB guns. Rather than that, it’s a quiet but empty city.

“Anyone here?”

I am not in the park, it’s a walking distance to the city, what a nice view!

Totoro, Laputa:Castle in the sky, Kiki’s delivery, The Valley of the wind..I am not a big fan of Japanese animation, but for sure Miyazaki Hayao’s cartoon is a part of my childhood memories. Ghibli Museum located in Mitaka Tokyo. There are a branch of exhibit to explain the science behind of animation. You can find the robot from castle in the sky, cat bus from totoro, a Mockup of Animator’s Studio…etc. over there. Ghibli Museum is a interesting place. We spend half day there to refresh my childhood dreams.
PS: Thanks our friend Vivian for the Ghibli Museum’s tickets. We loved it so much!

I am lying on the block from castle of the sky.

Cat Bus!! Too bad only Kid is allow to go in.