September 11, 2011

Today we drove south and east 97 miles to Volcanoes National Park. Stopped at the visitors' center, watched a movie, and heard a ranger give a good presentation of how the Hawaiian Islands were formed.

Drove on to Crater Rim Trail, a 4 1/2 mile trail into the 400'+ crater and Lava Tuba. When they returned, they hiked a 2.5 mile round trip trail to a cinder cone.

I was birding and only saw one new bird, an O'ma'o.

We drove into Volcano Village for dinner, then headed back to the Jaggar Museum and a view of the Halema'uma'u Crater, which is active.

The drive back to Kona was endless with lots of dark roads and hairpin curves. It was a lot like 250 as you head into West Virginia from Ohio.

Pictures: Sunrise and surfers, South shore, Hikers at the trailhead, Orchid, Mauna Kea, Hikers,

Halema'uma'u Crater on fire.