Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive

Big Island of Hawai'i
Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive (aka Hamakua Scenic Drive), north of Hilo, along Hwy 19
This turnoff from the highway takes one through tropical forest and along the coast (and even in to an agricultural area). However, there's not many spots to pull over, so all these shots were taken from a moving car.

































2 July 09

Rainbow Falls

Big Island of Hawai'i, city of Hilo
Rainbow Falls, where the Wailuku River plummets 80 feet down, surrounded by tropical plants and trees. (And it's an easy hike along the side of the falls to get to the upper level.) Unfortunately we got there on a mostly cloudy day (so there were no rainbows).
Credit where it's due: Some of these were taken by my talented wife.


























2 July 09

Saddle Road (Kaumana Caves)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200 (a/k/a Saddle Road)
Entrance to the Kaumana Caves
A lava tube from an eruption in 1881 makes a cave just off the highway. A concrete staircase allows for easy access down, and from there one can choose to explore (we didn't have time nor appropriate footwear for the slick ground). The sides of the wall are lined with ferns, with vines hanging down from the upper area. Rainforest plants line the floor of the exposed open area.

Oh, and in case you might forget, back up at the level of the highway there's hardened lava to remind you what created this area.

2 July 09

Hanging in Hawaii

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Saddle Road, near the Kaumana Cave, this tree is adorned with these long, streaming vines.

2 July 09

Saddle Road (between Mauna Kea and Kaumana Caves)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road
Scenes from a moving rental car of the area east of Mauna Kea and west of the Kaumana Caves, as the landscape transitions from rocky lava beds to more lush rainforest (or vice versa, depending on the direction). (In the distance in this first shot is Hilo.)

2 July 09