Enjoying the 'Aloha' in Hilo
We have been in Hawaii (Hilo side) for over a week now and we are finally in sync with the Island lifestyle......light years different than Seattle, as you can imagine. To leave a town with evergreens and alpine forests in wool socks to suddenly (22 days later) be among palm trees and eating avocados that big enough to wear as shoes is quite the contrast. The first few days involved doing six bags of boat laundry, eating 'fresh' food and sushi and touring the downtown area and farmers market. We met a few other cruisers coming from opposite ends of the world ...one just arrived from the South Pacific after 3 years traveling, the other just left LA and are heading for Australia where they live. It has been rather exciting meeting and talking to people with so many experiences to share.
We got together with a couple and we all chipped in and rented a car to tour the Volcano, the Lava Tubes (underground tunnels where lava used to flow), walk through Lava tree forests (petrified trees), natural fresh water hot springs that butt right against the ocean front and crashing sea waves, Black Sand Beaches, Lava fields, and glowing live lava flow at night.....lots of lava!!
It is a gorgeous island with friendly natives. However: note to self I wonder how can ANYONE remember these street names?? (I am terrified to ask directions because I am afraid of the details!) Kamamahakeikiehunpuna Street or Punakaicocohapa Rd.... And WHAT do they mean? .... Ignorance is bliss in this case.
Igor, another sailor here in our bay asked a local girl (ok woman)...what sites are there to see close by....she replied "There is a Tsunami Museum" Igor replied, "I don't really like going to museums, where do YOU like to go on your days off" and she replied with a huge smile "Ken's Pancake House".
So there you have it.