Hawaii, Day 3

Mele kalikimaka! We had pineapple (sliced with a pilfered butter knife) and coconut (salvaged and broken open on nearby rocks) for breakfast, together with our perennial peanut butter and cheerios (cheap, filling, doesn't need refrigeration). While we were eating, Ryan spotted a sea turtle in the water just down from the shelter, so we ran for snorkels and swim suits. To my surprise, we were fast enough into the water to swim alongside it! There also turned out to be a lovely patch of coral and many types of fish in the water.

We packed up tents and drove to Wai'pio Valley. Against all odds and warning signs, Rick drove our rental car down the 25% grade road to the valley's base. We'd read up on the various available hikes, and my strong vote for the beach hike won out: 45 minutes or so over volcanic beach rock, between the waves and a cliff, culminating at a waterfall from the cliff to the water. Unfortunately, we had neglected to check a tidal chart, and the beach thinned as we approached. Finally, though we could see the waterfall around the next outcropping, we elected to turn back. Of course, it was at this point that Ryan sprained his ankle. We wrapped it up in my towel and handkerchief, and he hobbled back to the car. Eileen hiked up the road to the top of the valley, making it in an impressive 15 minutes. The rest of us elected for the adventure of driving up the very steep road (well, except Ryan, who would have preferred to walk, given the option).

We had recieved an email that morning from some orienteering friends from Canada we hadn't seen in a few years, stating that they were not only in Hawaii for Christmas, but nearby, and that we should come for dinner. Despite an inability to return the communication, we waited in Hawi for a bit to see if they would turn up. Sure enough, by the end of an hour, we knocked on the door for the address they'd given us, and they were home! Not only were we introduced to the whole family and welcomed to dinner, but we were also offered showers and beds for the night- beautifully generous, especially since our other option was a few-hour drive across the island and setting up tents in the dark.

It was a lovely Christmas.