Trip Interrupted

My apologies for those who had been following this blog. On April 30, shortly after we arrived on Maui and met up with Lauren and Andrew, we received word that my mother had been hospitalized with a small stroke. The next day, we learned that CT scan revealed that my mother was full of cancer. We caught the first available flight home (via Pheonix and Charlotte) and reached her side late May 2. We were able to spend a few days with her before she passed away on May 7.

Reflections on Hawaii

Our final day on the Big Island is very rainy so we are relaxing, packing and catching up on correspondence.  This island is very different from Oahu and Kauai. There are small pockets of touristy resorts on the west side but for the most part, this island is very rural and agricultural.  In some ways, it feels like northern Ontario (different vegetation of course) with farms, small towns and lots of national and state parks to explore the natural setting. The climate where we are staying on the south east side is also different - much more humid, rainy and less windy. The vegetation is lush with incredible flowering plants and trees everywhere you look. The native Hawaiian population dominates the area but it also seems a destination for people seeking alternative lifestyles. Lots of free spirits, hitchhikers, yoga retreats, drumming circles, clothing optional beaches etc. Interesting to say the least!

The natural world is unavoidable here. The constantly changing weather and the lush vegetation is accompanied by an amazing soundtrack. We are constantly serenaded by the sounds of rainfall, breezes in the trees, crashing surf on the cliffs, the songs of tropical birds and the night calls of the startlingly loud tree frogs.

Our time in Hawaii has been amazing. The beauty of these islands surpasses all expectations. But this place, more than any place I have ever been, has made me aware of the incredible power of nature. This is a place where earthquakes, mudslides, volcanoes, hurricanes and tsunamis are very real and present dangers. The power of the ocean is everywhere,  with ferocious surf carving into the lava formed cliffs and pounding onto idyllic beaches.  The risk of death is very real. I did not mention this before because it has taken time to process, but we witnessed a drowning due to rip currents on a beach when we were on Kauai. A snorkler was pulled out but could not fight the current. The lifeguards found her but were unable to revive her. It was incredibly sad and frightening. It has also made us very respectful of the water.

I have attached a few pictures taken yesterday on our return from the west side of the island when we stopped in the historic town of Hilo.
 Tomorrow, we join Lauren and Andrew on Maui. Can't wait to see them!

Birthday and Volcanoes

We spent yesterday exploring and hiking in Volcanoes National Park. We saw massive lava fields, steam vents, petroglyphs, a lava tunnel and a semi-active volcano. Best geography lesson ever Maga!!!
Afterwards, we celebrated my birthday in an historic lodge near the park. Today we are on a mini trip to the other side of the island to see the Gold Coast beaches and numerous historic sites.

The Big Island

The Big Island is very different from Oahu and Kauai. It is very rural and undeveloped. Much of the island is covered by black lava rock and the main attraction is Volcanoes National Park where there is still volcanic activity.
We are staying in a very remote location on the south shore on the famous "Red Road" in a Buddhist influenced guest cottage. It is definitely a "drop out" destination - very secluded with a private hot tub and lush tropical gardens. It is across the street from a cliff with crashing surf, next door to a yoga retreat and down the road from a clothing optional beach frequented by a very Bohemian crowd (read naked aging hippies!). No  tv but there are great books and cd's and a constant chorus of tree frogs to keep us entertained.

Na Pali Coast and Hanalei Bay

The last few days on Kauai were spent exploring the funky little town of Hanalei Bay and relaxing and walking on the many local beaches. The highlight of our stay was the sunset cruise to the majestic Na Pali coast. This incredible coastline has been featured in many movies including Jurassic Park, King Kong, Indiana Jones and the Descendants. The cruise was fantastic.  The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful and the freshly grilled meal was delicious. Plenty of beverages too!  :)

Kauai Birds and Sea Turtles

We have seen some amazing wildlife on Kauai. The most exciting was seeing sea turtles in the surf and watching the flight of an albatross. There are also lovely little red headed birds related to our cardinal and a special type of goose seen almost everywhere. In addition, Hawaii is populated with hundreds of wild chickens and the colourful roosters crow all night and day!