December 23, 2010 to January 5, 2011: It is 7:15 in Thursday, December 23, the sun has just risen on the Oakland airport and we take off on board our Boeing 767 for 5h Hawaiian Airlines flight direction the islands of Hawaii. For those who do not know, the Hawaiian archipelago consists of 8 major islands with a private (Ni'hau). We planned to visit 3 of them during our trip: Big Island, Kauai and O'ahu.
Big Island: from December 23 to 27.
Big Island is the largest of all islands of the archipelago. It is twice the area of all the other islands combined. Hawaii consists of 5 different volcanoes that, during their eruptions, have finally come together to form a single island. Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hulalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
We landed so the Kona airport to the west of the island at about 14h local time. A yes I almost forgot, there are still 2 hours gap between California and Hawaii So Now we have 11 hours time difference with France at all. After retrieving our rental car, we head to our hotel in Hilo, on the other side of the island.
The next day we get up at dawn to begin our visit by the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The volcano is still active, some parts of the crater are closed to the public primarily because of Toxic gas. We can not make the tour around the crater, but we can still close enough to take pictures of the smoke that escape.
We stopped also at the Steam Vents, where water vapor is continuously expelled from the volcano is quite impressive. Then we take the road towards the sea to see the cliffs formed by ancient lava flows. In passing we stop at Thurston Lava Tube. Let's talk about Geology: What is a lava tunnel? A lava tunnel is formed by a lava flow that cooled the surface, forming a solid crust, but whose heart remained fluid, enabling to Lava continued to flow. When the casting continues to be fueled by molten lava, it leaves an empty cavity in a gallery.
After a brief stint at Pu'u Pua'i which is nothing but a pile of dried lava formed by the volcano 40 years ago now. You can see the picture (in the album) that nature has not yet managed to regain its rights. It's a bit like desert place ... Here we go again towards the sea which is quite strange is that the road has been built on old lava flows and after several miles she net stop, stopped by a cast that flows into the ocean ...
After more than 5 hours of access and a small meal in Volcano Village, towards the south of the island. We stop at Punalu'u Beach Park and was pleasantly surprised to see sea turtles resting on rocks or on the beach Sand Black.
the road again and finally arrived at Ka Lae: the furthest point south of the island and the United States, enjoying the bed the sun before returning to spend Christmas Eve in a typical restaurant Hawaiian quite nice.
Tomorrow is Christmas. So after opening our respective gifts, we're off to climb the highest mountain in Hawaii: Mauna Kea, an ancient volcano which rises to 4200 m by car of course. At the top, we remain in awe of the snow-capped summit of Hawaii on one side and the other a lunar landscape with huge cameras and telescopes. Confusing!
Then we head the extreme north of the island to Pololu Valley. We find another black sand beach (much finer than this) surrounded by cliffs huge, really pretty. After an hour of beach, we decide to visit the North Kohala Coast of the island. Given that the weather is bad and all the largest hotel complex located next to the island, we went to our first Golf in Hawaii: the Waikoloa Beach Course. Two hours of pure fun before sunset. A treat!
On the last day on this island, we begin our day with Visit the highest waterfall in Hawaii: Akaka Falls, the. In the middle of the Hawaiian jungle near Hilo, the wettest part of the island. What better way to conclude our three days here to finish the day on the Green Sand beach alone in the world. And yes you read correctly, the rock contains olivine and gives the green sand. The beach is really not easy to reach and so we had to walk almost an hour to get there. We'll even get to see a sea turtle during our swim.
After three days of intensive Visit it's time to rebuild our suitcases. We fly the next morning for the island of Kauai.
Kauai: From December 27 to 30.
We land in the rain so this Monday morning, the oldest of the main islands of the archipelago of Hawaii . Our agenda for its next four days: visiting Waimea Canyon, dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and fly over the island by helicopter because 80% of Kauai is inaccessible by car. Unfortunately, the weather was against us. We therefore reserve the helicopter for the final day hoping that the storm has passed. We also provide information for activities that do not fear too much rain, such as sea kayaking or quad. It turned out that the kayak was just too expensive and the quad is a bad idea for bébinou.
The next day, armed with our umbrellas, we go to visit the north coast of the island. After a brief stop at Wailua Falls, we arrive at the end of the road: Ké'é Beach. From there, we go for a hike one hour to have a nice point of view the Napali Coast.
The clouds being stranded on the tops of the island, we take the opportunity to go snorkeling (mask and snorkel) to Tunnels Beach. Then on the way back we will make a stop on one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island: Hanalei Bay.
Wednesday 29, we start trusting toward the Canyon. Unfortunately, a layer of clouds prevent us from making the hike we had planned (Visibility in the cloud 10 meters). So we have only one photo of the canyon drinking, be aware enjoy it as it should ...
Heading south of the island where the weather is much milder. We put our towels in Poipu Beach, a haven for bodysurfing. I feel compelled to rent a board and bodysurfing fins for the day and am going to ride the waves of the Pacific. After waiting for the perfect wave, I decided to go ... Result I think it was a bit too big for me!
balance: a good shock in the back, a palm lost forever, a small turn in a washing machine with unblocking noses bonus, a treat!
the last day, we meet at noon for our flight by helicopter. Unfortunately at the time of takeoff the pilot decides Tarping theft cause weather. Indeed, a storm front bearing down on us at warp speed V. I let you imagine the head of Amanda at the time! So we realize that the two main things we wanted to visit the island fell into the water (in the case of the mean). But in those moments, only one course can save the day. Good thing one of the most beautiful island is just a few miles: The Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course. But what causes the most (Amanda) is that after 30 minutes of play the storm has passed, and we had bright sunshine to finish the course. The same evening towards the airport to our last island: O'ahu.
O'ahu: from December 30 to January 5, 2011. We land at Honolulu International Airport at 23h. After 30 min taxi we are at the foot of our great tower in Waikiki. Honolulu is the 11th largest city in the United States, and the only major city in Hawaii. There really is here that we felt he was in America with 8-lane major highways and buildings higher than each other.
We spend our first day on the island at Waikiki Beach. The beach is just at the foot of the buildings just minutes from our hotel and apparently we are not alone in wanting to swim that day. For example it's like a Sunday in summer 'Estagnol. A little confusing still spend the last day of the year on a beach with water at 25 ° C. So know dream anyway we do not have a photo of the day to show you because we forgot the camera in the room. You do not see me tame the waves of Waikiki Beach Surf this time. In the evening, after dinner Christmas Eve we go to the hotel from our room to watch the fireworks.
The first year, we take the bus to Diamond Head, an extinct volcano where one has a panoramic view of the island. The ascent takes us 45 minutes but still it's worth the detour.
We will finish the afternoon on a beach near the aquarium to recover from our exhausting day.
Sunday, we booked a day boat trip on the west coast of the island. We climb aboard a large catamaran to snorkel but especially to go see whales. Indeed during the winter it is common to see whales off the Hawaiian coast, as they come to mate or give birth in warmer waters of the Pacific. So we are northward along the coast to our surprise when the captain announces that there is a whale dead ahead. Panic on the bridge, everyone rushed on his camera hoping to take the whale jumping like Marineland. Amanda has finally managed to take some shots nice. Later we meet dolphins enough players from rubbing against the hull. Pretty cool! After an hour of diving off Makala and a meal on the boat it is time to up anchor and return to port. On the way back re-Belote. Even whales! Definitely we thought not to see, we've been spoiled!
And finally, in the port of Ko'Olina we go next the Black Pearl, boat used in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean. In short a busy day.
Monday 3 we let our little Mustang convertible to be able to visit the rest of the island at our own pace during the two days we have left. Program, beach on the east coast of the island this time. We begin by Kailua Beach and Lanikai and finally Hanauma Bay the best beach on the island regarding snorkeling. This last track is a natural reserve, we have to pay a few dollars for access. But the most fun is having to attend a briefing 10 minutes of a Ranger on what to do and not do on the beach and then seeing a 10-minute video on what just said the Ranger. Basically we must not walk on the corals to preserve and properly adjust his mask before looking at the seabed! Thank you we suspected ... It was finally allowed to swim in the middle of colorful fish, it was like in an aquarium giant. Really impressive!
Tuesday we packed our bags and set off to visit the north of the island. The north coast is famous for its giant waves, especially in winter. It's paradise for surfers! We stop at Pipeline Beach and watch the surfers get eaten by waves of bigger and bigger. Aware of my level of surfing I preferred to stay on the beach this time. In the afternoon we go to one of the most beautiful courses on the island at Turtle Bay where I could play the Arnold Palmer Golf Course, probably the most difficult the three I have played in Hawaii.
We left then head to the airport, our flight is at 21h30 direct to Houston.
But things never go as planned arrival at the airport we learned that our flight was canceled, of course there is no other flight that night so we paid Continental Airline overnight Hotel and breakfast in Honolulu to catch a flight the next morning.
After a stopover in San Francisco we arrive in Houston Thursday, January 6 in the morning with a day late. So instead of visiting Houston we direct route to reach Pensacola, Florida where we expected the next morning to start my new internship.
I hope this little story you like, because we took more than a day to publish it! Soon for new adventures ...
