U.S. - Hawaii - February 1996

In February 1996, a conference opportunity brought me to Hawaii's Big Island. I circumnavigated the island in a rental car and saw the extensive lava fields of the west and north, and Hilo and the thick rain-soaked vegetation in the east. Also, I saw Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the south. The overall contrasts were really striking. The island seemed to have constantly changing weather which would vary tremendously based on short distances. In general, in the coastal areas, east-to-west trade winds were relatively strong, producing even a few broken tree branches on the grounds of my hotel. Where I stayed, on the western coast amid the lava fields, the climate averaged out to be typically very dry, supposedly a few inches of rain per year only. On the other hand, Hilo gets a lot of rain. One town in the north, Waimea, seemed to always have rain on one side of the town but not the other. Needless to say, the tropical and volcanic scenery of the island was quite spectacular. Bits and pieces of the scenery reminded me of things I could see in the lower 48 U.S. states, but overall the impact of the scenery was quite unique. The western part of the island, in particular, is "big sky country" with the mountains and treeless lava fields providing expansive views. On may way there and back, I connected through Honolulu and, on a layover between flights, got to see some of that as well.

View of Honolulu and Oahu after takeoff.

420-ft. Akaka Falls, within its namesake state park on the eastern (rainfall-rich) eastern side of the island north of Hilo.

Scenery on western side of Big Island.

Beautiful sunset view over Pacific Ocean, visible from Kona coast.

Petroglyph visible in Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve on the Kona coast.

Scenery at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. An intense sulfuric smell permeated this area.

Picture of rental perched on a mountain road, with the lava field-studded western coast visible in the background.

Polulu Valley Lookout is located near the northern tip of the Big Island.

Entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.