Day #4 (Thurs)

Today we took a trip over Hilo on the East side of the island. Hilo is larger than Kona and this part is where there are more natives. It's not as touristy as Kona and the West side. But Hilo is also the wet side. Average rainfall is rarely less than 100"/year and often much more. So  Hilo is often in clouds. The vegetation is so lush on this side, it's like rainforest.

We planned to start by having coffee with Dorlene Cross, a resting sister from WA who has been staying at some friend's place south of Hilo. It was very nice to see her and see how she is doing.

Then we headed over to see Rainbow falls. It's right in town. Kona has NO waterfalls because it's the dry side, but Hilo has several. This one is very pretty. Because Hilo gets rain, it decided to POUR on us as we were climbing to the top of the falls. We got SOAKED! Especially our backsides, cause we had to scramble over the rocks to get back to tree cover. Ugh. We took refuge under a huge Banyon tree then ran for the car. I was wet all night..

Then we drove around some, taking a 4mile scenic drive. I thought it was going to be view of the ocean. It ended up being views of the lush tropical vegetation with one wee peek at the ocean.

We drove past some forests a Japanese company leased from the Hawaiian gov't to grow Eucalyptus trees on. They almost lost their trees and lease because they neglected to harvest their trees. I guess they are starting to now. Also went to a beach where there is a memorial to several school children and some others who were killed in a Tsunami in 1946, back before there were Tsunami warnings. In one reading, a survivor said it was like someone pulled the plug on the ocean and the fish flopped around on dry ocean bottom; then a great wall of water came in. 

We headed over to the job site. Kelly (and Deb) are over here building a dairy. That is Kelly's work. He builds very nice dairies. So they won a bid to build/enlarge a dairy that is on the island. There has been just two small dairies on Island. The bulk of the milk that is sold here comes from the mainland and has to be triple pasturized which does affect the taste. So the Big Island is very happy to have a dairy expanded so that they could perhaps supply their own milk.

It's the dairy that I have to thank that I'm even here. If it weren't for that, Deb and Kelly wouldn't be here and thus, I wouldn't have been invited. So we had to go see it!

Afterwards, we went to get Malasadas. Dad and Mom would love them! Basically square donuts sugared and filled with something. Kelly and I got guava filled, Deb got plain.

Then it was to see a valley where to drive down it you HAVE TO HAVE  4wd as it's a 25% grade! Yikes!! We watched a surfer for a while then came back out as it was getting dark. The valley there produced Taro root, or Poi. Someone told Kelly that their mother used to carry taro root out of that valley twice a day! climbing the cliff side and going back down. No vehicle! This area also was washed out by the Tsunami in 1946.

Then it was supper and...phew... home!

Starting over Saddle Road to Hilo

Donkey crossing?? There are small herds of wild donkeys on the island. 

Snow on Mauna Kea (Mauna=Mountain)

Can you see it?

Orchids in the wild! Wee ones 

Coming into Hilo

Ugh! Traffic..

After Coffee with Dorlene on our way to see Rainbow Falls

Hilo is the lush side of the state because of all the rainfall.

Rainbow falls

Path to view the top of the falls

Huge Banyon tree! If I'm 5'7" and that's my arm span, it's huge!!

Hard to tell but this is the rocky bottom to the river that turns into the falls

Pools of water at top of falls

Selfie! See how pale I am.. have to change that...

Top of falls..look out below!

Yup, it's me and the bottom of the falls! So we are near the edge..

Looking over the edge. See my foot?

About now, it started to rain. It poured! Tropical downpour. We were soaked, and scrambled back over the rocks to get to the cover of the trees.

Two drowned rats!

Hidden in the cleft of the Banyon tree. I guess it creats roots wherever the branches reach down and connect with the ground

Another Banyon tree in a school yard

This was such a cute tropical school. Pic doesn't do it justice.

How they do Christmas here. Three spindly decorated trees in a large grassy area.

Drive by the ocean. See the rain on the horizon? Clouds and mist looking air?

Hawaiian cemetary

The "Scenic" drive.

A little falls on our Scenic drive

One of many Eucalyptus groves we drove past on way to job site.

Beach where there was a school and settlement where many were killed in a 1946 Tsunami.

Don't know what these are for except maybe a water break? Didn't see them anywhere else.

Look at the beautiful water color!

Memorial listing names and ages of those killed.

Pictures of those who died, those they have pics of...

Milk tanker at job site.

It's so hilly, they have to smooth out terraces to build on. See the ocean in the background? Lovely view for the cows.

Free stall floors (stalls where cows will rest and eat)

This is the basement of the milking parlor. Hard to picture it as a milking parlor but it will be.

Another selfie at the Malasada restaurant. Too bad them weren't making them. Malasada's are Portuguese donuts. 

YUM!! But a bit too much guava..

Deb and Kelly heading down to the overlook where we will be driving down shortly.

Sun was setting. Beautiful view! Makes me think of the rainforests in Brazil (not that I've been there...)

See the warnings?

Kelly says he's never seen a road this grade on mainland. Perhaps there are some in San Francisco?

Going down!

Part way down, waiting for an upcoming vehicle.

At the bottom and after a very rough drive over bumpy road, we end up at the beach.

Debbie and Kelly, my very gracious hosts!

Looking back up from where we came.

Kelly trying his hand at rock stacking..

Heading back up

We saw people climbing this hill!

Supper - Catch of the day (Ono Fish [Ono=good]) over pesto pasta with broccoli and spinach.