Glad you found the black sand beach! After having done 2 Hawaiian cruises, I had decided the Big Island was my favorite, and did a two week vacation in Hawaii spending one week of it in Hilo. BTW if you ever get back, take the helicopter tour. Yes it's expensive, but well worth it. To fly over an active volcano is priceless. - One last tip, maybe shorten your entry video to 10 to 15 seconds, 30 seconds is long, especially if people are going to be watching more than one video. 😁
Valcano National Park was great. I did not do any hiking. Took a bus tour to the park. The welcome are was nice but I bet it was in a different place. The valcano lava you saw the second part was the part of the park That I walked through. Walking on lava is something special. And years after you can still feel the heat as lava is flowing underneath. We could look into the crater when I was there and you could see the steam vent that became much more active in '83 and they pulled people back. Black Sand Beach in bare feet! . You were crazy! The sand was very rouch I thought. It ws more shady when we were there so not as hot. You did not take any sand? If so mail it back so you don't have Madam Pele sending bad luck down on you! On another part of my tour there was a part of the island where gravity is backwards. Along the roadway, it was a side road, are signs saying do not park here. She parked the bus, turned off the engine, and released the brakes and the bus went up the mountain BACKWARDS. It was something. It was only about 1/2 mile long but fun.
Backwards?! That is crazy! It does sound like you had a wonderful trip! We did not take any sand with us, but yes I was crazy for walking on it barefoot! It was very hot, but not as rough as you would expect. - Natalie
