Hilo, Hawai'i, HI - July 31, 2002

. OnHiatus.com > Journal 2 > Day Index > Journal Entry: July 31, 2002

Wednesday, July 31, 2002

Kulanaokuaiki, Volcanoes National Park to Hilo, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Hilo, Hawai'i, Hawaii:

Latitude:	19° 41' 45" North
Longitude:	155° 8' 16" West
Altitude:	1606 feet
From Seattle:	2884 miles
Lodging:	Friend / Family - Maria

Today's Travel:

Country:	United States
Region:	Hawaii
Route:	Car: Volcanoes National Park - Hilo
Path:	Kulanaokuaiki, Volcanoes National Park - Hilo, Hawai'i, Hawaii
Linear:	29 miles
Weather:	Sunny / Rain

Available Photos:

View across Kīlauea Caldera towards Halema'uma'u Halema'uma'u Trail head (Volcano House), Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Flowers and trees Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Flowers Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Stacy on trail, crater walls on left Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Caldera floor through trees Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Caldera floor Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Looking back towards crater wall and Volcano House Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Crack in caldera floor Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Halema'uma'u Crater Halema'uma'u Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Ferns Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Lava flow Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Broken lava Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Kīlauea Iki Crater Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Kīlauea Caldera Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Trail across Kīlauea Caldera with Halema'uma'u Crater in distance Crater Rim Trail, Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, HI

Click on map to Zoom in...

Trip Stats to Date:

Day:	49
Linear Dist:	13200
Countries Visited:	3
Regions Visited:	9
More stats...
Hotels:	17
Friends / Family:	23
Camping:	6
Transit:	1
Hospital:	2
Beers:	92
Hide...

Journal Entry:

We got up pretty early, but by time we managed to break camp, pack, prepare for our hike, and get to the Volcano House it was already nine. We started hiking at 9:15. It was an incredible hike through rain forest on the way down to the crater floor - huge flowers and dense green ferns, a dramatic decending trail, and occasional peeks of of the sheer crater walls. Then suddenly you're on the caldera floor, which is utterly desolate, but still nice in it's own way. We made good time accross the floor and less than two hours in we're back at Halema'uma'u Crater. From the crater we followed the crater rim around the southern edge - mostly gravel, very exposed, and even more dramatic. Through some lava fields then we ended up back in the trees - good thing as it was starting to get very hot. We started to slow down and it was a hard push to the lava tubes where we stopped to eat lunch and explore. We walked around the northeast rim of Kīlauea Iki Crater crater to get back to the main (Kīlauea) crater. The last mile was along the old road - what was left of it, most of it was hanging over the edge of the crater! Back at the car we sweated the trip to the village for gas (we were very low), but we made it. The we had a quick shower, turned in the shower key, cleaned out the car, and drove back to Hilo. Talked with Maria and Abegardo, then had a great steak diner.

Paging: [⇚ Jul 30] | [Aug 1 ⇛] OnHiatus.com > Journal 2 > Day Index > Journal Entry: July 31, 2002