Day 6 in Hawaii: Hilo

We arrived in port around 8:00am. We headed to breakfast and were off the ship by 8:30am. The Budget shuttle was much quicker to arrive at this port and the office was only about 7 mins from the port. This office is an outside of the airport booth office. We were at the window and into our rental within 10 minutes of ARRIVING!!! It was amazing. We got a sporty car this day, it was a KEYLESS start car. My DH and I acted like it was a foreign object.. It was just so weird to us!

We were off and on our way to Volcano National Park. It was a smooth and easy drive. It is a straight drive and it only took about 45 minutes to get to it. We arrived and headed to the Kilauea Visitor's Center. We used the restrooms and listened to some of the rangers speak for a little. We also grabbed a map. On the map it gives you directions to have an cell phone tour. You call 1 808 217 9285 and then it is a tour. You go to a location, type in the # on the sign and it explains what you are looking it. It was free and very interesting.

Then we got back into our car and drove up further to the Sulphur Banks and Steam Vents. We walked along the boardwalk, took some pictures and then headed back out on Crater Rim Drive.

Sulphur Banks

Steam Plume

We continued around until we got to Kilauea Overlook and Picnic area. Again, we got out and looked at Kilauea from a different angle, took some pictures and back into our car we went.

Next stop was Jaggar Museum. We got out and walked around the area. The Jaggar Museum is a museum of remains from eruptions, objects found after an eruption and the history behind it.

Remains of clothing of someone researching during an eruption, and he SURVIVED

The Steam Plume from outside of the Jaggar Museum

We got back into our car and back the way we came. The one part of Crater Rim is closed due to the high amounts of sulphur dioxide gas. You backtrack a little, just pass the visitor center and you make a right at the stop sign to head to Kilauea Iki Crater Overlook and Thurston Lava Tube.

Kilauea Iki Crater

We parked in the parking lot at Kilauea Iki Crater and walked to the Thurston Lava Tube. During our walk we saw signs that you could walk across the crater, it was a 8 mile walk round trip. We did not do it but we took pictures of people who did.. they looked like ANTS!

 It's a mile walk and an easy one, I had on sandals. It is has a rain forest environment since was funny to us because while walking if you look to your right, it is dry... empty.. crater.

Our walk to Thurston Lava Tube

We went through the Thurston Lava Tube which was again was a short walk through. It was very interesting as well. After the explored area ends, you can enter the UNEXPLORED area. We choose NOT to do that. It was not something I was interested in. There are no lights.

We walked back to our car. We packed a lunch that day from the cruise ship and eat our lunch while enjoying the beautiful view. You can pack a lunch everyday, at breakfast there is lunchmeat out. So we each made a sandwich and fruit, ziplock bagged it and we had a free lunch. It was great and quick.

Next we drove down the chain of craters, stopping at the different Lava Flows. It is amazing to see all of the areas that lava has just flowed over and hardened.

We continued driving and got out of the Kealakomo Overlook and Picnic Area.

We did drive all the way down the Chain of Craters until we hit the Holei Sea Arch which was beautiful and amazing how it was formed.

Lava Meets Ocean

Sea Arch

We did NOT do the Petroglyph Trail or walk to the part of the road that the lava flow had closed due to our time schedule. We still wanted to see Akaka Falls and make a Walmart trip, because our 5 memory cards were FULL, with 4 days still to go...

So we turned around and drove back out of Volcano National Park and headed straight for Akaka Falls. It was about an hour drive from VNP to Akaka Falls. The GPS lead us right to it.

We did NOT do the full loop around Akaka Falls. When you entered Akaka Falls you can go right for a full loop or left to go to the falls themselves which is a shorter walk. The full loop takes about 30 minutes, the shorter walk is about 7-10mins. We were able to still see the beautiful vegetation that surrounds the falls, including a beautiful bird that was sitting on a tree stump. We snapped a few pictures and continued on our way to the falls.

The falls are breathtaking.... Akaka Falls was probably the most beautiful falls we had seen on our vacation.

After snapping a few more pictures we went back to our car to head to the local Walmart. On our way to Walmart, we saw a "Scenic Outlook Point" so we pulled over. We could see the Pride of America on the water.

 It was only about 30 minutes from Akaka Falls and well worth it! We purchased another memory card and headed back to the airport. The Hilo Airport was beautifully maintained with GORGEOUS flowers everywhere...

We were back on the ship in plenty of time....

We returned to our ship to find an elephant towel animal *I love them* and a spotless room. I believe I have failed to discuss our room cleaning daily but we have not had a problem yet. Clean, restocked and wonderful!!

We decided to head to Aloha Cafe for Sangria Happy Hour, $4.95 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm and view Hilo at night. It was gorgeous. The Sangria was very good as well.

Next, We headed to the Gold Rush Saloon for some drinks. That night we had the Lava Sail By. I unfortunately had one too many cocktails and fell asleep in our balcony chair waiting for Lava Sail by to happen :( My DH took pictures and we purchased one of the ships pictures for $4.95... There picture is MUCH better than any camera we would of had. ((I need to scan the boat's picture))