Day 10: Race Around Big Island

Thats right. We raced around this island too! But definitely not on scooters. No instead we took the mustang :) But maybe a mustang wasnt the best choice because Ford never did believe in leg room. But we were invited for a free tour so no complaints other than a joke here and there.

It was another bad night of sleep but at least I didnt pay for it this time. Believe it or not Corey Hansen was up at 6bloodyAM! It was tragically rediculous like I knew it would be but somehow I wasnt as tired as I thought I should be. The mustang was waiting on us around the corner and we took off.

All I remember from the start was that it was cold. Much too cold for Hawaii. Oh and the top was down of course. First sites were waterfalls and then some very scenic overlooks. Surprisingly nothing was disturbingly beautiful as you would think. That also could have been due to the fact that the first half of the road trip was overcast and cold. As we started hitting the other side of the island it started to clear and got real hot. Like a 10 degree difference it was crazy.

Unfortunately there wasnt much that happened thats worthy of retelling for the first half. It was green and then when we started to climb the mountains it was all brown and dry. We did see cows though. Eventually the old lava came and it was very cool. Just nothing but dried black lava everywhere from forever ago. In some places trees and grass were trying to regrow.

We did check out the lava park that you pay to go in but we rushed through it like everything else because the guys had to have the car back and make their flight that night. The park was cool for what we got to see. A couple of craters and steam holes and then a big crater with smoke coming out. I was kind of in awe to see this part of nature but regrettably I didnt get to think on it too long. And we missed the one thing I wanted to see most besides the lava itself (which we still havent), lava tubes. Supposedly its actuall tubes you can go inside where lava used to flow but got hollowed out I think. Would have been sick to walk through a freaking lava tube. Maybe we'll go back before we leave.

As we're driving again, Sara and I were looking at our guide book and saw these cool pictures of statues and palm trees. We see the name of the place and then when I look out of the car there was the that place! Really random so we pulled in. Again I dont have the name of the place but Ill try to add it later. It was this sacred place where early Hawaiians were. They carved all these really odd wooden statues and stuff. There were also nice palms everywhere with really nice paths and this crystal clear cove where sea turtles sleep every night. There was one there but I didnt get to see him clearly. So the turtle quest is still on.

I might have gotten the order of those last two mixed up but no matter. Towards the end of the drive we came across a sign....Black Beaches ->! We all got excited and turned immediately. We see the beaches, park, and run out to the nearest one. Two words. Un. Real. I was standing on my first black beach! The "sand" felt amazing bc it was quite chunky. Its lava that hits the ocean and then shatters. Took some quick pics and some up close ones so youll HAVE to see those. Didnt think to take one with phone though =\ it was turned off and forgotten.

So once again we leave regrettably early beacause seeing a black beach in person is just awesome and worth a few hours at the very least. We drive the last stint and are back in Hilo with time to spare. We grabbed some food and then got dropped back off at our jungle spot. But people are here today and we get worried. Not knowing what to do yet we just sat in the road for a minute. There was a house right next to us so we knocked on their door but no answer. We then decided to just eat and figure it out.

We called up our local friend Del and he and his friend came to pick us up because they were going out to eat. They pick us up with all our gear and we went to a bar restaurant somewhere downtown. They told us about this plant called cava I think and how the roots are boiled and you can drink it for relaxation. Odd thing is, when we left we walked around and came across an Ava Bar randomly enough. A guy who worked there came out and we started talking to him about it and we ended up going inside to taste it. We each had half a coconut shell of the stuff and then some kind of grapefruit extract which made your mouth really numb. And then he gave us some kind of coconut concoction. We did a funny clapping thing before and after you drink the stuff. Clap once to center, dip finger in and sprinkle some over shoulder for some god, sprinkle some on floor for another god and then splash your neighbor for fun. Then drink it all in one go and clap twice. It was basically dirty water but it did make you feel something and was quite the interesting experience. He also gave us these wierd spiky red fruits that were really sweet and mushy on the inside. Like a squishy grape once you peel the outside off. We thanked him and said we would probably return on Monday for the live band and cheaper shells. Its normally $5 a shell.

So with a very packed day and interesting experience in our belts, we get dropped back off yet again at our spot, people gone, and set up camp for some well earned sleep.