A walk around Hilo - March 27

Low-riding Russian duck (maybe had gotten into some oil?)

Kept trying to flap water over his greasy feathers

Local eatery (long-standing establishment was ruined by the 2 tsunamis (1948 and 1960) that decimated downtown Hilo, now has a new location out of the tsunami zone).  

Tried a Loco Moco! - Ferd and I had to share the traditional cholesterol-laden meal favored by the locals - fried eggs over hamburger patty over sausage over rice and doused with gravy.  It was pretty yummy.

Pretty little Golden finch

Bark of the Bagra eucalyptus - not native to Hawai'i but comes from tropical islands north of Australia

Boat harbor hardware

Moss on a stone wall

Ferd enjoying himself

Drive around north Hawai'i - Kohala area - March 26

Green gecko - least desirable because they eat the brown geckos

Kohala west coast

Exotic jungle fowl

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - March 29

Tree reclaiming the right to grow

Bench of lava - flows down to the sea to create a shelf.  Edge of the shelf can break off.

Mauna Ulu lava flows from 1969-74

Pahoehoe lava field - flowed at hottest temperature (smooth and ropey)

Pu'u Loa petroglyphs - Families still place a baby's umbilical cord in the center to establish the child's tie to the earth.

Where the lava shelf has broken off

Mona Loa in the distance

Kilauea Iki Crater - Tiny people hiking down in the crater.

Halema'uma Crater in the Kilauea Caldera - lava is about 200 feet below the crater rim

Pele - goddess of fire and volcanoes

As sun sets, we begin to see the reflection of the lava below on the steam

Lili-uokalani Gardens near Hilo on Hawai'i - March 25

Iron wood tree trunk

Looking across Hilo Bay (beyond wall) to the town in the distance

Cutout in the pagoda

Paper bark tree

Hilo Farmers Market and Mauna Kea

Taro

Hilo street preacher

Hilo cute kid

Bill making another point

Rainbow Falls

Mauna Kea Landscape at 9,000 feet

Mauna Kea Silver Sword

Hilo on Dwellable