Hawaii, Day 2

There was a trail I hadn't noticed the previous night through a forest along the waterfront. We then drove north, to a wind farm, and walked barefoot along some seaside cliffs to another Heiau. Our guidebook promised us heebie jeebies, but we were somewhat disappointed on that front. It was structurally interesting, though: the black stones of the volcano were light and jagged enough that they required no grouting to stack into high walls.

Another drive away, we hiked down a steep hill to a beautiful beach and lagoon- the two bodies of water separated only by a thin strip of black sand. The area on the far side had once been 100-foot-high black sand dunes, but it has since coalesced into firm dunes which played home to tens of rope swings, made from washed-up fishing ropes, which earlier visitors to the area had hung high from the trees.

At the far side of the beach, we discovered a trail leading up- and up, and more up, as we soon discovered. The better part of an hour later, (Eileen and Dana dropped out), Ryan, Rick, and I reached a viewpoint from which we could view much of the seven steep valleys beyond while feasting on our bananas.

Back at the car, we drove into the nearby town of Hawi, where we refilled water bottles and had Tropical Dreams ice cream- some of the best I've had. Mine was coconut ginger.

Returning to our campsite, we treated ourselves to showers in the ceiling-free structures at the beach. The water was cold, but we needed the wash- our next event was a nice night out to dinner for Christmas Eve at Pesto's. Our food was beautifully plated, with edible tropical flowers all across the top. Definitely a rare treat, though: food in Hawaii is ridiculously expensive... and I had the steak and lobster.