The day after our green-sand beach adventure, we went to Volcanoes National Park. First we saw the steam vents.
Next we hiked through an enormous lava-tube. This is the entrance to the lava tube.
The first part of the lava tube was lit. This is from inside the lava-tube looking out.
Part of the lava tube branched off into another tube that was not lit but that you could explore if you had a flashlight. Jairin is standing in front of this branch.
The kids climbed a little way into the branch, as far as they could go and still see light. As they were returning to the main tube, a couple just leaving the branch gave them two flashlights. The kids were thrilled. Of course, now that there were flashlights, the little girls didn't want to be left out, so I climbed down with them, and we walked quite a distance into a very very dark lava tube. We turned back when we could no longer walk forward but had to start climbing up. The older kids wanted to explore it longer, but we had other things to see.
We drove part way around the crater of the volcano and stopped a couple times to look down into it. At least half of the road was closed due to poisonous volcanic gasses which were seeping from the crater and blowing across the road.
Actually the gasses are blowing all the way to Maui which is why we've had so much vog (volcanic fog) lately.
That evening, we drove to the part of the island where you can see real lava flowing down the mountain and dropping into the sea. Unfortunately, you cannot get very close anymore. When Rob and I were on the Big Island four years ago, you could hike in two miles and see the lava up close. (I was eight months pregnant then, too, so we chose not to hike but now wish we had anyway.) Now you hike in 1/2 mile and look off into the distance. During the day, you can see the great clouds of steam coming off of the ocean.
When it is dark, the giant clouds of gas and steam are orange with an occasional instance where you can see the lava explode into the air. At night you can also see the orange lava running down the mountain side, although this picture does not give a very clear view. 
This is a picture of the children on the lava we hiked across, before it got dark enough to see the fresh lava flow.
We stayed in Hilo one more night. Other highlights of Hilo were touring the macadamia nut farm and learning how difficult it is to harvest macadamia nuts,
visiting the candy factory and buying chocolate dipped shortbread cookies and the absolute best brownies I've ever eaten (dark chocolate-coconut brownies), seeing Rainbow Falls
and Akaka Falls 
and eating sub sandwiches at Subway (most of the older kids had never had Subway sandwiches and were looking forward to trying them) :-).
Next we hiked through an enormous lava-tube. This is the entrance to the lava tube.
The first part of the lava tube was lit. This is from inside the lava-tube looking out.
Part of the lava tube branched off into another tube that was not lit but that you could explore if you had a flashlight. Jairin is standing in front of this branch.
The kids climbed a little way into the branch, as far as they could go and still see light. As they were returning to the main tube, a couple just leaving the branch gave them two flashlights. The kids were thrilled. Of course, now that there were flashlights, the little girls didn't want to be left out, so I climbed down with them, and we walked quite a distance into a very very dark lava tube. We turned back when we could no longer walk forward but had to start climbing up. The older kids wanted to explore it longer, but we had other things to see.We drove part way around the crater of the volcano and stopped a couple times to look down into it. At least half of the road was closed due to poisonous volcanic gasses which were seeping from the crater and blowing across the road.
Actually the gasses are blowing all the way to Maui which is why we've had so much vog (volcanic fog) lately.That evening, we drove to the part of the island where you can see real lava flowing down the mountain and dropping into the sea. Unfortunately, you cannot get very close anymore. When Rob and I were on the Big Island four years ago, you could hike in two miles and see the lava up close. (I was eight months pregnant then, too, so we chose not to hike but now wish we had anyway.) Now you hike in 1/2 mile and look off into the distance. During the day, you can see the great clouds of steam coming off of the ocean.
When it is dark, the giant clouds of gas and steam are orange with an occasional instance where you can see the lava explode into the air. At night you can also see the orange lava running down the mountain side, although this picture does not give a very clear view. 
This is a picture of the children on the lava we hiked across, before it got dark enough to see the fresh lava flow.
We stayed in Hilo one more night. Other highlights of Hilo were touring the macadamia nut farm and learning how difficult it is to harvest macadamia nuts,
visiting the candy factory and buying chocolate dipped shortbread cookies and the absolute best brownies I've ever eaten (dark chocolate-coconut brownies), seeing Rainbow Falls
and Akaka Falls 
and eating sub sandwiches at Subway (most of the older kids had never had Subway sandwiches and were looking forward to trying them) :-).The next morning, we left early to drive the rest of the way around the island. The scenery is spectacular and ever-changing. I read somewhere once that the Big Island has something like seven of the earth's nine ecosystems. This is apparent as you drive around the island. One minute everything is rain forest. Go around the next bend and suddenly it's savanna. A few curves later -- desert. It's quite amazing. Much of the island is just black lava rock.
We drove up to the very top of the island as well, to a little town called Hawi. There we saw the birthplace of King Kamehameha II who united the Hawaiian islands,
and more beautiful scenery. 
We ended up back where we started, in Kona, for two nights in a condominium--plenty of space and a kitchen and washing machine. The strangest palm tree we have ever seen was very near to our condo.
and more beautiful scenery. 
We ended up back where we started, in Kona, for two nights in a condominium--plenty of space and a kitchen and washing machine. The strangest palm tree we have ever seen was very near to our condo. 
While in Kona the second time, Rob and I attended an evening session at the temple. The next morning, Rob took Adam and Kamri (her first time) to do baptisms for the dead. That was a special experience because the Kona Temple is the temple assigned to the Maui saints, but the likelihood of us being there very often is slim. So we are happy that Kamri had the opportunity to attend the temple for the first time.
We flew back to Maui on Lana's second birthday. It was only a 25 minute flight. With eight children, that's my kind of flight :-)!
We enjoyed our family vacation and hope to take the children to see some other islands in the future.
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