Akaka to Rainbow Falls with Surprises In Between - Big Island Hawaii

 My cousin is in town and that translates to roadtrips to look upon beautiful spots I haven't seen since...well the last friend or relative visited. We emerged from our sleep cocoons early to be fueled by coffee and excitement for what the day might behold. It occurred to me this should be the case every morning as everyday is a humanly unplanned event. And yet...travel, even loosely planned travel raises the level of enthusiasm for the unexpected delight. Having lived on the Big Island (which is not all that big as I recently figured it is in fact 9% the size of Tennessee) for a third of my life I pretty much know my way around. There aren't that many roads and the main one will put you right back where you started...eventually. And YET...on occasion I stumble upon an area I haven't traversed before. 

On this day it was a tiny trail marker sign off the scenic road just past the Botanical gardens near Hilo between the two waterfalls on the agenda. Blink and you'll miss it but as we said many times along the trail while seeing the Botanical gardens people over the fence in the distance..."we're on the free part!". 

Onomea Trail (the shorter one) from Old Mamamlahoa Hwy to the ocean. 

Wait...are we in the PNW now??

Schefflera bloom!!! I've never seen a pink one!

Lily flourishing in hard places. 

Crinum asiaticum "Spider Lily"

Onomea Bay

The ocean has almost shaped this peninsula into islands.

London in Silhouette

It was a very sunny and very windy day on the East side of the Island. For most of my life Hilo was the Wet Side and Kona was the Dry Side. But in recent years that has seriously changed. It rains nearly every day in Kona in the upper elevations and very frequently on the lower. Enough for this desert region to not look deserty anymore. Green is the new beige. 

So as we ventured up the road to Akaka Falls Park the sun was lighting up everything. I could even see the Observatory on the top of Mauna Kea in the distance behind it which is usually completely hidden by clouds! Though I think I prefer the moody stormy weather for Akaka Falls even if that requires ponchos. Tourists were huffing and puffing on the trail stairs and I needed some serious tinkering for my photos not to be blown out. The first view is from the parking lot in case you did not budget for parking and entrance fees. (Free part!) 

Epic Parking lot Views

Some Serious Bamboo

First big glimpse of Akaka Falls

The Tallest Bromeliad Display

Akaka Falls

Akaka Falls is 442 ft tall. My lens couldn't capture the whole length from the lookout point. 

She's Holding all the Things

We drove to Rainbow Falls after a late lunch or pre-dinner at The Booth Bar in Hilo. I've never eaten here soooo delightful surprise number 2! 

Mouth watering Vegan Tacos - Lentil Walnut Chorizo, cortisol kraut, fire roasted tomato salsa, black beans and taqueria pickles. I had to forego the roasted jalapeño crema as it was cashew based. I'm sure it was awesome too. 

We arrived just before closing time, but the falls are the briefest stroll from the parking lot and FREE. Rainbow falls is 80ft tall. Depending on rainfall, I've seen this one drastically change in width to the full rock face. 

Rainbow Falls

Mango grove at the top lookout. 

Banyan Tree

Driving back to Kona via Saddle Road we came upon a very strange weather phenomenon near Mauna Kea. At first it seemed we were above the clouds, then about to drive through them. The clouds started changing shape, resembling waves moshing against each other and other times white fire and before we knew it they were all around us. The moon came shining through right after the sun had blinded us. Later we realized it was perhaps the outline of the sun filtered and not in fact the moon. Though it looked just like the moon. Maybe we temporary drove into another dimension and it was someone else's moon. 

Saddle Road, Big Island

Psalms 42:7-8

Deep calls to deep at the thundering sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. Yet the Lord will command His faithful Lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will be with me. A prayer to the God of my life.