September 18 - Last Day on the Big Island

We took a walk around our Pahoa neighborhood. There's a dirt road that connects with Route 132 that we accidentally stumbled upon. There are many turnouts where you can sit and watch the ocean.

We then had lunch at the Black Rock Cafe in Pahoa. I had the Hawaiian Stew, which was wicked ono. It was served with rice and macaroni salad, 2 of the most popular side dishes in Hawaii.

We drove to Isaac Hale Beach Park to watch the surfers and boogie borders. It's a popular spot for the local people. Swimming isn't recommended here because of the rough surf. There's a hot pool located here. While we didn't go in, we were told that there were shrimp in it.

Next, we headed to Kalapana and hiked to the black sand beach. Near the shoreline are rows of young coconut palms. Coconuts were brought out there and left to germinate. The 15-minute easy hike starts at the end of Route 137. This is a nice spot but not good for swimming because of the rough surf.

We decided to go back to the lava splatter viewing area at the end of Route 130 in the daylight. During the day, we were able to see the smoke coming out of the volcano but not the sparks. I was also interested in seeing the houses built on the lava.

I often wondered what would possess one to build a home here. My question was answered when we met a man whose home was overrun by lava in July 2010. There are a couple of subdivisions in which numerous houses were destroyed, his being one of them. He had a great attitude about it. When he built the home, about 5 years ago, he knew he'd eventually lose it to the volcano. However, it was a way in which he could be one with nature. He enjoyed it while he had it. He also showed us photos he took of the lava and its destruction. He also cautioned us about unsanctioned nighttime lava tours which tread upon private property and allow people to venture on the tenuous lava benches, which have been known to collapse into the ocean in seconds.

That's the fascinating thing about Hawaii. It's an ever-changing environment. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that you're on a volcano. It's easy to forget the power of the ocean. Just be careful and you'll have a great, fun, safe, and unforgettable time.

We ended our day with a relaxing soak at Ahalanui. Definitely a spot worth returning to!