Big Island - May 11-14, 2012

For Mother's Day weekend Sommer and I went to the Big Island!  The first night we headed straight to Halema`uma`u Crater for some nighttime lava viewing. It was one of the highlights of the trip!

On Saturday we headed for a round island trip. Hitting up Punalu`u and the black sand beach.

We then headed out towards Kona and Pu`uhonua O Honaunau (City of Refuge).

We stopped in Kona for some lunch.

Then we headed up to Hawi and Kamehameha Akahi `Aina Hanau (Kamehameha's birth place).

On Sunday Sommer and I headed out to Kapoho and Kalapana.

We picked up Robert and headed up to Mauna Kea.

All three of us hiked out to Lake Wai`au! At the 13,000 feet in elevation the 1.5 miles hike to Wai`au was BRUTAL!

From the Summit we watched the sunset on a great day and our short vacation.

Haleakala, Maui

Mauna Loa

Rest of the pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiapolo/collections/72157629751964772/

Kuli`ou`ou Ridge - April 21, 2012

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Solo hike up Kuli`ou`ou Ridge. This trail was a easier than I expected, harder than Mariner's Ridge but easier than Hawai`i Loa Ridge. I got lucky when I drove up, a car was just pulling out of the last parking spot at the end of the road! I had front row parking!

The trail follows a BWS road for a few yards before heading to the right and up the ridge.

The ridge trail veers off to the right of the valley trail and ascends on a series of gentle switch backs.

The trails is initially rocky and dusty before switching to the needle pines typical on many trails.

The trail gains the ridge and passes some great campsites on the way to the shelter and picnic tables about two-thirds of the way to the top. It took me about an hour to get to the shelter.

At the shelter a couple hikers passed me and one mentioned that the "fun" part begins after the shelter. I was expecting a grueling trail of steps like Hawaii Loa or Wiliwilinui. The trail after the shelter is steeper and there are steps, but the final push to the summit is relatively easy.

When the trail levels out you're almost pau!

The view from the top is breathtaking.

Click to view the large version.

From the summit I could see people at the top of Koko Crater.

I didn't see anyone at the Mariner's Ridge summit.

I hung out at the summit to make another timelapse video before heading down the way I came.

GPX here:

Rest of the pictures here: