So - the Manta Ray excursion happened! We went by boat, starting after 9pm, to a spot where the manta rays are known to hang out. Once there the guides get in the (cold) water with these boards that have handholds and lights to attract krill, plankton and other small fish - all food for the manta rays. The manta rays show up to feed - they feed 20-22 hours a day!
We did not take our phones into the water but these pictures will give you the idea.
This was really an incredible experience! The water was cold but once we saw the rays we forgot about being cold. Fun fact - the mama carries the baby 9 months gestation then sort of gives birth internally, carrying the baby another 4 months inside. To give birth she accelerates to about 40 mph, leaps out of the water into the air and sort of "poops" the 3ft wide baby out. She then promptly abandons the baby. Done.
The female manta rays are larger than the male. Some were more than 8 ft across!
It was incredible!
Yesterday we headed out from the west side of the island to Hilo on the east side. We will be here at a bed & breakfast 4 days.
On the way over to Hilo we stopped at Punaluu Black Sand Beach. The water was too cold to snorkel - we will wait to be back in the Caribbean for that ... LOL!
I was laying out trying to read but kept getting distracted by the possibility of a coconut falling on my head!
After having lunch we continued on our way. We stopped at the Hawai'i Volcanos National Park and did a hike.
We are walking along and see these - we are both wondering why there is "yard-art" in the NP. Like those metal ornaments people put in their garden. These things looked like they were made of metal. This is an Uluhe Fern:
The path meandered a bit, feeling like a line at Disneyland ---
These fern were wild - this is the leaf before it unfurls to look like the green leaves in the picture. This is a Hapu'u fern.
So, we read on March 10th that the seismic activity was over. This sign, and the ranger we talked to, informed us otherwise. Earthquakes and seismic activity was back already - we asked the ranger about coming back tomorrow - he said to check the Volcano-cam on the website - if it looked like Bellagio without the music - don't come! LOL
This is an 'Ohi'a Lehua - they are beautiful!
Steam rising from the Kilauea Iki Crater during our hike on the crater bottom
So - in case you are cold or have a death wish ....
There used to be a road (below) that went around the edge of a crater. In 2018 that road was "eaten" by lava and is no longer used by vehicles. This is how nature reclaims its ground ...
This road was my favorite because it ended at Volcano house. We had a nice glass of wine and some pulled pork / pineapple flat bread. Yum!
We finally arrived at our B&B in Hilo. It is very nice - quiet and small (only 3 rooms). Time for a good night's sleep.
Today was all for the National Park! We embarked on the Chain of Craters. [Super helpful tip - before you go to a NP - download the National Park app. it has self-guided tours and all sorts of cool info]. On the way to the NP we saw these idiots pulled over on the shoulder taking pictures - turns out it was a beautiful clear view of Mauno Keo volcano! On the right, sort of under the cloud is Mauna Kea (usually covered with clouds!).
Kilauea Iki Crater - you can walk across this crater....
Next was the Lava Tube - these were some of the warning signs - you know I love these signs -
So - watch your HEAD!
... and your FEET ....
but don't fear because WOLVERINE will lead the way!
At the entrance to the Nahuku Lava Tube, one of many such lava tubes on the island. This lava tube was discovered in 1913. When a lava tube is active, lava travels along its floor at temps that exceed 2000 F. When the supply of lava stops at the end of an eruption it leaves behind an empty cave.
It was long and very dark - a little weird honestly.
This is the Puhimau Crater - you can sort of see the steam rising on the far side of the crater.
Ok - there are 2 kinds of lava
This one is smooth/ropey lava called pahoehoe.
This is rough/jagged lava called a'a (imagine there is a line above that second a) - I swear Carsten thought I was choking saying "a - a" all the time....
Life can find a way - the plants thrive in the lava.
Surprising that the lava is colorful - I was thinking all black and grey.
This was once a road - the lava covered it 1969-1974. Worse than construction on I-45! Smartly, they just gave up.
This is Rattlepods, also known as Crotalaria. The seeds, when eaten in quantity, may cause "acute death".
Next stop - Pu'uloa Petroglyphs.
See all those holes? There are more than 23,000 of these in which a portion of the umbilical cord of a newborn was placed to ensure a long life.
Some ancient graffiti
again, colors !
This is Holei Sea Arch - this formation is beautiful, but temporary, and has a limited life span. The sea arch will eventually crumble into the sea. The sea arch was cut into the cliff of an ancient lava flow from about 550 years ago due to 'differential erosion', referring to the difference in the hardness of various layers of lava.
Now we are back at the B&B with a bottle of red wine. Of course, some new visitors just arrived - they are from Ulm, Germany! Of course they are! LOL
Aloha!
Sheri & Carsten
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