Planes, Trains and Automobiles!

Yesterday was a day any four year old would have loved, or Dave Gladstone. Waking up in the morning we spotted a whale slapping his side fin on the water, probably trying to attract a mate. When we left our hotel, to our surprise, on the other side of Kona bay was a HUGE cruise ship taking up the entire horizon. We drove to the airport...and you could still see the GIANT ship. Dave would've loved that.
Then we checked in for our two hour flight with Big Island Air. A must-do if you are ever on the Big Island of Hawaii. Carl thought the pilot was joking when he asked the two of us "Which one of you wants to fly co-pilot", so Anna jumped at the chance and got to ride shotgun. Don't worry, she didn't try to fly the plane.
Riding around the island in a 10 passenger plane is a whole different perspective. We started flying down the coast south of Kailua a little and he pointed out some great places for swimming, and snorkeling! Then we headed east up through the islands two biggest volcanoes/mountains. One of them, Mauna Loa is apparently...how did he put it "If she was a pregnant woman, she'd be 24 months pregnant."
Passing through the mountains we flew to the erupting site of a newer volcano on the island. Steam and smoke we visable from miles away, and the craters that were miles wide, apparently filled with lava beneath the surface and houses around the outside edge made us really question Hawaiian people's judgment. The most recent lava flow has taken out a neighborhood but don't worry, those folks have already started to rebuild on top of it!

Then it was off to Jurassic Park (or "DryLand" as Carl prefers the movie Waterworld) where we drove through the same valley that the helocopter flew through in the beginning of the first Jurassic Park. I must say I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful sight. Waterfalls after waterfalls falling down thousands of feet off of these green plush cliffs into the Pacific Ocean. WOW. If you are a hiker, trying to hike that area would be amazing.
Then we saw whales from the sky. Carl took a great photo before they went under.
After our flight we went to check out the coffee store but after had to turn in our red jeep for a grey one due to the strange sound it had been making. Then we drove South of Kona after lunch. We stopped at a neat Coffee Plantation and met a fellow Christian who says God called him to Hawai'i...and well, we both agreed that we too could use that excuse to come to Hawai'i, and the sacrifice would be unbearable but we would do it for God.
In the evening we watched the sunset, and the sea turtles at PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU. And wow, coolest place ever, we may go back there for some snorkeling today.
Hawai'i is pretty amazing...if you get a chance...you should definitely do it.