Off the air momentarily

We're in Waikiki now, arriving yesterday afternoon and immediately checking into hotel rooms directly across from Waikiki Beach. The internet access here is unreliable (i.e., I'm stealing a wireless connection from somewhere that didn't exist yesterday), so entries may be few with some time between. Don't fret though - photos and stories will be posted as soon as this no access situation is relieved.

Here's just a smattering of things that you can expect to read about and view in the near future:

• "We're here!" - Cheers! A limo ride from the airport <clink>;
  
• Dinner and concert by Hapa at Chai's Island Bistro, including Andy and Tamas meeting the band;
• "And then there were four..." - Ryan leaves to celebrate New Year's in Vancouver;
• Adventures in Oahu - a convertible, the sun, lots of sunscreen, a camera, and the open road;
  
• New Year's 2007.

Our 2007 promises to be filled with happiness, laughter, celebration, and prosperity. We wish all the same for yours. Happy New Year!

The reveal

Final reflection of Puako paradise

Mahalos to Hale Puako (House at Puako) for our safe stay, which was filled with experiences that will become great memories.

I can look back fondly upon twelve wonderful days that I had on the Big Island, and my 10.2 night sleeps under the stars.

Before the wind rises, the land
is bright black, a stretch
of young stone fallen toward waves.

Here the field of petroglyphs
holds to its mystery
like the first song of natives,

the forgotten chant from father
to father that was the source.

If I journeyed through what was lost,
I would begin in this place,

the kiawe thorns cracking like
spice-board beneath my feet,
the wind coming now like a low

whisper at my back. I would begin
with these figures at Puako.

The men who carved their crude
proclamations are gone. No one
left in the islands knows

what they all mean. But this
one represents a canoe maker,
an adze blade arched above his left hand,

a sail open full to the wind
joined to his left foot.

Those pocks were piko holes,
where Hawaiians stuffed
their children's navel cords,

hoping for long life. Now
they are pools of lichens.

These others are mysteries.

Miles away the road climbs high into wind.
This is the tallest mountain
in the world, if you measure

from its roots in the well
of the Pacific. And what hangs
on: the sugar and macadamia

plantations, the small cars
bundling their tourists
into blue rain,

the slant and spit
of the ragged Kona Coast.

At Puako, Kohala by Steven Goldsberry.
Illustration by Dietrich Varez.

A resort like no other

At the Hilton Waikoloa Village, one is allowed the chance to ride rhinos and seahorses. Between exotic animal rides, you can choose between riding the air-conditioned monorail or open-deck tour boat to your next destination or taking a leisurely stroll through tremendous Asian art exhibits. The Waikoloa Village allows you experience gardens, spas, dining, high-end shopping, and breathtaking scenery, all within the confines of a single resort.

The Waikoloa Village - a shameless display of human opulence and excess.

Common grounds

This is white coral writing on black lava rock that is off the side of the highway. It is quite common to see this.


This is Donkey Balls and Surfin' Ass. It is not common to see this.

The process

• Seeking a reputable and trustworthy artist
• Selection of the design
• Selection of colours
• Cleaning of the body area
  
• Placement of the design
• Inking!
• Healing
  

Back to Hawi

More strange sights on a second trip into Hawi.

Sushi from Sushi Rock. Shown here, the Ming Dynasty and Paradise Pleaser rolls.

You don't bring back flowers

Jo-Ann and Tamas love the plumeria blooms, but won't be bringing any plants back to Vancouver.

Oh, here are photos of Jo-Ann's ankle and Tamas's shoulder.

Postcards sent home

Dear <insert your name here>,

We are having a wonderful holiday here in Hawaii. We will be leaving Puako tomorrow, so that we can celebrate the start of 2007 in Waikiki. Wish you could be here to share this amazing trip with us.

Love, Andy, Tamas, Jo-Ann, Ryan, and Ryan

(Hula-girl graphics by Ryan S)

Night: Spectacular spectacular

Just before dinner, we (and our turtle friends) watched the sun set from the point close-by our private beachfront. What we saw was spectacular.

Day: 69 Beach

A twenty minute walk, mostly along the Ala Kahakai beach trail, brings us to Waialea Beach, also known as 69 Beach for the mile marker at which the beach is located.

Along the trail are several remnants from residents and passerbyers that came before. At the beach are soft sands and blue waters.

Hey there, active volcano explorer!

The lava flows from the ongoing Pu'u 'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption of Kilauea Volcano abruptly closed the coastal Chain of Craters highway on November 28, 1986.

From our hike beyond the end of the road, we weren't able to see up close where the lava was flowing. We did see the steam plume where lava was meeting ocean waters, lava breakouts from a telescope viewing vantage, and lots of previous lava flows. We aborted our active volcano exploration after considering the late hour of the day (5 pm), the length of the hike in front of us (2 hours), and the imminent darkness and rain that would make the hike treacherous.

Petroglyph

Past the 16 mile marker of Chain of Craters Road is Pu'u Loa Petroglyph Trail. A 15-20 minute walk in from the parking lot brought us to a boardwalk to view the rock carvings.

Crater Rim to Chain of Craters

We started our visit to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park by driving Crater Rim Drive. This is a fascinating drive that brought us from the park entrance and visitor centre to the Chain of Craters Road.

At the scenic stop points along Crater Rim Drive, we attempted to soften our skin with the natural steam vents and stood in awe at the size of the Halema'uma'u Crater. It is easy to compare the landscape here to an extra-terrestrial place. Along the Drive, we were provided with reminders of the continued activities of these volcanoes, labelling the various lava flows that we passed from before 1924 to a much more recent 1982.

Chain of Craters Road descends (3,700 foot elevation drop) to the south-eastern coast of the Big Island.

A fave place for Andy

Immediately after entering the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, you can view and purchase art creations, some strange and some beautiful, of many Hawaiian artists at Volcano Art Center gallery.