First farewell

Today is our last on the big island. Headed to Oahu this evening. 

We decided to hit some of the tourist attractions around Hilo. 

We started at Akaka falls. At 442 feet it was an impressive drop into a green canyon. A larger fall is present on this island and the highest in the USA. It is over 2,000 feet high. 

On the way Chris climbs a bayna tree. These giants are a natural jungle gym. 

The objective. Note the constant rainbow at about 1/2 way down. This is on of the fall that has the famous salt water fish that use suckers on the abdomen to crawl up the rocks behind the fall to breed at the top. Also there is a salt water shrimp with similar life cycle. 

Dense tropical jungle. Mauna Kea and telescopes can be seen in the distance. 

A bakery where we stopped for a roll filled with adzuki beans. We learned that many yards have graves in the back and it is common for the current owner to have to maintain the grave site. 

Statue of Kamehameha. He unified all the islands and was present when captain Cook landed. 

Gifts for the king. 

We were both very tired today. Some combination of post altitude distress syndrome, hiking not less than 4 miles a day for 8 days and sleeping in a truck. Destination napping. 

This ice-o-saurus delivers ice through his mouth. We stumbled upon this little gem behind the ice factory. 

A lovely and peaceful visit to the Japanese garden. 

We found a wonderful little lunch cafe. Tina's gourmet garden cafe. It was Thai but with a lot of fun and delicious surprises. Here Chris has Thai coffee panda leaf tapioca.  

We took a quick tour of the Hilo shopping district. 

A rope dragon in a Japanese shop. 

This was our last big treat from the island. We accidentally stumbled on an oasis of warm spring pools near the air port. A lovely last dip. 

Young man net fishing in the surf. He had to snorkel in after each cast to retrieve the net. 

We like to that the following for his leg of the trip. The Ford F-150 that not only got us around the island but successfully and illegally topped and descended Mauna Kea. 

The walking stick that added much needed balance on and rough lava. And aid to weary knees. 

And of course the Brogans. They were doubted by many but again proved their competence and versatility. 

We enjoyed the big island and left plenty to explore on another trip. 

A quick journey brought us to Oahu for a short exploration on the most populated island. I am looking forward to sleeping In a bed and rinsing some of the current layer of grime down the drain.