Secrets of the Big Island

Secrets of the Big Island 

Picture this...driving down a narrow, winding road with the ocean off to your right, violently crashing against the steep cliffs and the rainforest extending tall and thick to your left. Two magnificent forces of nature, both very humbling, guiding you along a small path to your destination. While to some this might seem frightening or unnerving, for me it was magnificent. As I drove along Hawai'i 137 in search of Kanoe (pronounced Ka-no-ee) and Nathan (friends from school) who were waiting to lead me to an incredible beach, I was privileged enough to travel along such a road. The trip to one of the only swimmable and sandy beaches on the windward side of the island was incredible but it was nothing compared to what I was soon to experience. After walking down, ok hiking/climbing, down a rocky path (without shoes of course) a extensive black beach with deep blue waters unfolded before me  and to my surprise many bare booties as well.

 Once I went through the initial shock of being on a nude beach, mostly because I had no idea that it was a nude beach prior to arriving, I began to take in the grandeur of the area. Cliffs reaching up all around us as huge swells washed up one after the other onto the black beach. As the boys tried their hand at body surfing, which they were excellent at of course, I absorbed as much of the ocean as I could. Floating upon the swells as they passed through, preparing to break upon the shore. When the sun began to set lower in the sky Kanoe and I went to explore a near by tide pool. We did not find much but had great time trying to click the camera a just the right time so we could get a cool picture of the waves crashing against the rocks. Let me tell you it was not easy!!! :)

 Once the sun made it clear that it was no longer going to warm us in our oasis we decided to chase it, moving north up the coast to what are known as the warm ponds.

The warm ponds were a welcomed treat after sitting wet from the ocean in the shade. Heated by the volcanic activity of the island, the warm ponds are a mostly natural area in which warm, freshwater bubbles up from the ground and cool salt water flows in from the ocean creating a brackish concoction. Here we spent the last hour before the sun went down warming up and avoiding being attacked by tiny fish, which seemed to really enjoy attempting to eat our ankles for dinner.

Ahalanui Park
Home of the warming ponds

I apologize for the short posting but I am exhausted from the sun, water and waves :) hard life I know. Hopefully the pictures make up for the length and tomorrow you will get to hear all about my fist day of Dogfish dissections. :)