ROAR /  by Dave Hileman

It is easy to see why movies like Jurassic Park are filmed in Hawaii with this kind of lush scenery and abundant waterfalls. Not to mention good weather, good food and really easy I expect to get actors to agree to a few weeks on location.

Gratitude /  by Dave Hileman

Cindy and I wish that your Thanksgiving Day is all that you imagined. We are traveling today south toward Florida and expect our Thanksgiving meal will be at Buc-eees. Maybe. Yet we are extremely grateful for health, faith, family, friends, church, travel, and so much more. We are blessed beyond description.

An overlook along Chain of Craters Drive in Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park (NPS # 323 Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

Volcanoes NP is one that you can actually say is always changing. There are active eruptions and lava flows in the Kilauea Caldera that change the landscape and create additional land on the island of Hawaii. We started on our 90 minute drive to the park early in the morning to hike the old lava flow and petroglyph area of the park along the Pacific Ocean, a 19 mile drive one way from the VC to the end of Chain of Craters Road. We were warned to do this hike early because of the heat. Good advice! It was getting hot on the trail by 9:30. There is a sea arch in the huge cliffs along the shore which is being worn away constantly by the wave action. We did three short hikes to four different old lava flows and craters of now dormant volcanoes as the road ascended to the rim, and we walked though the Thurston lava tube and up to the rim of the Kilauea Iki Caldera. Along the West Crater Rim Drive, we were on a walkway surrounded by steam pouring from vents with a strong sulphur odor. At the end of the drive is parking for the historic Hawaiian Volcano Observatory building. It was closed and condemned after the last eruption. Much of the cliff it is built on fell into the caldera, and the building is on a precarious edge. A 1/2 mile walk led to excellent viewing overlooks. Back near the VC, we went to the Volcano House Lodge, another historic park structure, for an early dinner and interesting gift shops. Another walk about a mile from the hotel led to a great overlook for watching the sunset and the lava field glowing red in the darkening sky. The impression was of many small campfires which grew in number as the darkness settled in. It was a long drive home in the dark after a 16 hour 8 walking miles day but seeing the lava eruptions in an active volcano was well worth the energy spent. Spectacular experience!

Along the Steam Vents trail. The young woman just visible along the trail has the same color hair as the rising steam.

Halema'uma°u Crater lava flow at sunset

Kilauea Iki Crater, you can hike across this wasteland but we chose not to do so. Long hike and would need another day.

Puhimau Crater, short hike to this one but across very jagged lava.

Some of the thousands of petroglyphs.

Holei Sea Arch - a lot of this fell into the ocean last winter and the rangers say it might not last too much longer with another strong storm.

Petroglyph hike area.

Even in the midst of this rugged scenery you would find beautiful flowers in places.

The Hiker /  by Dave Hileman

We were very late in the day well past Hana in the Haleakala National Park on the south end of Maui. It meant we had to drive back to our room in the dark on the road from Hana and that was harrowing. But look at the waterfall we got to see. Over 400 feet tall, Waikmoku Falls is deep in the rain forest. What a treat. The woman who is hiking and her husband (not shown) walked back with us the 2.3 miles to the cars and he is a photographer from Charlotte and they own an Oliver. Who would have guessed.

The Cook /  by Dave Hileman

We were warned by several people to take food on the Road to Hana because options were very limited or even non-existent. Not the day we drove. We stopped for a great banana bread in a little village and then, stumbled on this place. An old bus served as the kitchen and a platform around it with picnic tables provided the dinning area. Only two choices, coconut shrimp or fish. We ordered the shrimp. I do not like coconut but I figured I could eat one and the potatoes. The shrimp was fantastic. The coconut was fresh, fried, abundant and crispy. No aftertaste, just a great dish that Cindy and I made quick work of finishing. And the owner/cook was entertaining as well. Nice stop.

The Swimmer /  by Dave Hileman

Deep in the rain forest of Maui this waterfall filled the pool that the young man was swimming in near the end of the day. I was a long way off on a different trail going to a different falls.

The Photographer /  by Dave Hileman

There were two couples on the beach (one swimming) enjoying the last sunshine of the day and I saw this “other” photographer shooting photos of them and moving increasingly closer. Here he was shooting as the level of the sand. I am not sure the foursome ever saw him. But I did.

11th Month - 11th Day - 11th Hour /  by Dave Hileman

November 11, 1918 at eleven in the morning was the official ending of the terrible carnage that was WWI. Unfortunately, people continued the madness with the encore of WWII. History for that massive conflagration showed a clear delineation of evil and the effort to stop it was a worthy goal. World War II ended with the surrender of the Axis, first of Italy, then Germany and finally Japan. The unconditional surrender of Japan took place on the deck of this battleship, the USS Missouri. A heartfelt thanks to all the veterans of every era.

Challenge /  by Dave Hileman

This lava rock center stage of the photo had a difficult problem to resolve so it relied on the old adage, “two heads are better than one.”

You don’t get this insightful commentary laced with humor on just any old photo site.

(Thankfully)

I heard that!

Serious and Stoic /  by Dave Hileman

Hulas are storytelling and most of them are well known to those who grew up in the Hawaiian culture. so that the story is seen, not narrated, in the actions of the dance. At this evening demonstration we were given aid with the story being explained to us and how it related to the dance. We watched several and most of them were lighthearted but this one was a serious subject about loss and sacrifice. The woman on the right is telling the story - for we did not know it, and when she spoke the dancer held this pose, unmoving for what seemed like a long stretch and the music stopped as well. Very impressive.

"Its beginning to look a lot like...." /  by Dave Hileman

No, not me too. Just because it is red and green is no reason to leap into the seasonal fray with everyone else. Too early!

This red maple leaf was snagged in the pine tree on a remote road on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Because we saw so few colorful leaves it made the cut. Also, I am busy and behind on so much, and have to be four hours away this morning for a service. Back tonight. I intend to be caught up by the end of the week. Good intentions.