Day 2: Hawaii Part three

 Hawaii's "RED ROAD"!  After our visit to the volcano national park we took a "drive"..... We got this tip from a local we talked to at a bike shop! The locals call it the "red road" thats really not the name of the road, but apparently a long time ago the road was really red! - hence, the red road!
The drive was beautiful though. We also stopped off in a lava neighborhood. Literally! Houses, built out on the lava or houses that got missed by the lava flow back in the 70's or 80's. Crazy and HOT!

                           

Day 2: Hawaii part two!

Volcano National Park is a pretty interesting place. We viewed giant craters and toured long lava tubes. Thurston lava tube is big enough to walk through. It is what it says... a lava tube. Once upon a time lava flowed right thorough it! The cliffs are amazing and black and tall!

Halemaumau Crater we saw at night. I still glows red!

Day 2: part one

HAPPY HAWIIAN ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!  Yes, we are all decked out in our green! So, we actually headed to Hawaii because our friends were going too for a work convention... we just happened to tag along. They didn't have to be with the company the whole time... luckily! ha! get it! LUCKY DAY! because we got to hang out most of the time! -Day 2 we all headed south to Hawaii's VOLCANO National Park. We got up pretty early because it's a pretty long drive. If you are from Utah.....i'd say its like going to St. George and back in a day! We planned on a lot of driving, but with the scenic views it's a great road trip! On the way to the V. park we stopped at PUNALU'U bake shop! We made perfect timing, because we arrived right as the shop was opening. I gotta tell ya the crowd came in fast! But, why wouldn't they the MALASADAS were SO yummy! #Betterthandoughnuts. After our healthy breakfast ;) we headed for another must see stop before the park at Punaluu Beach Park. A.K.A BLACK sands BEACH. Pretty neat stuff! 

                                                
                       Mmmmmmm Malasadas!

      

     

     

    

 This leaf is HUGE! It makes a giant green heart! AWWW ;)

...yes we are bird watching while enjoying our malasadas :)

 Black Sands Beach!

Livin' in Paradise

Our Trip to Hawaii (the BIG island) in March was just AMAZING! We had so much fun and wanted to push the re-play button when it was all over.

FIRST DAY: Flight out of town to Seattle bright and early. Flew right over the mainland volcanos and right to the Hawaiian Island volcanos!

            Volcanos in Seattle!

        Snow-capped Hawaiian Volcanos

"the fun has arrived!!!"

Flying into Kona (west side of the BIG island) we ate lunch at the Kona Brewing Co.

I suggest you go! Its Yummy!

Fish Tacos and Real Hawaiian Pizza! Oh Yea!

We also stopped to see the beautiful Kona LDS temple! The orchids on the grounds were just amazing!

Are these orchids not just SO beautiful!!! Just growing all over the temple grounds!

 ...and the tall red tropical bushes!

NEXT.... Check in time! 

The resort grounds were beautiful. The beach views breathtaking! LOVE HAWAII!