Shoes are overrated...

Shoes are Overrated...

Aloha!!!

Today was my first day of classes and I could have not asked for anything better. My day began with natural history of sharks, rays and skates, in which we got an extensive briefing on our schedule before beginning lectures. In our class we go to lectures three days a week, preform shark dissections one day a week and then we have our lab. Our lab is undergraduate field work like you have never seen before. Every friday night we go out on a vessel, bait lines and begin fishing for sharks...yes, I get to go fishing for sharks every Friday night. Once we hook sharks, which are supposedly between 2-6 feet on average, we get them in a work area between the large vessel and smaller zodiac boat and then preform gender checks, which require turing the shark over and length measurements, then before releasing the sharks we tag them. I don't know how y'all feel about my situation but Im thinking I am in heaven over here. 

My second class while not quite as adventurous will certainly not disappoint. It is a tropical coral reefs class in which we are in class four days a week and lab every Monday. Oh and did I mention its called a wet lab...which means we go to the ocean and do snorkel labs for 4 hours. The best part is most of the labs require photographing marine organisms, so not only will I get to be in the water four hours every Monday, but my photography skills are sure to improve. I hope... 

Oh and I don't have class on Wednesdays...so thats awesome!

Now enough about classes, although they are going to be absolutely amazing!  Lets talk about explorations. 

Exploring the island to its fullest is one of my biggest goals. When I say exploring I don't mean your typical go to all the touristy travel book places either, I mean I am going to explore the Island the way the locals do and  let me tell you I am well on my way to doing just that. Having a friend who is not only a local but quite the explorer himself has made my first day of adventuring through Hilo a blast!!!  

For those of you who have been to the Big Island, you have most likely been to Rainbow Falls. A very popular location found in most guide books, Rainbow Falls is known for the magnificent rainbows that form in the mist of the raging waters after a storm.

Rainbow Falls
Hilo, Hawai'i

Most who travel here admire the falls from the lookout, posing for pictures and hoping to get a glimpse of the magical rainbows. 

Many begin the hike back through the magnificent canopy created by huge trees. 

I decided to take advantage of the extensive roots and vines
of the trees to get a birds eye view of the forest :) 

Some continue their hike back above the falls to find the falls and pools which feed Rainbow Falls.

 And very few experience rainbow falls like I did.... after climbing up a small rock face, through vegetation and to the edge of a 40 foot cliff, I turned around and climbed back down...Just kidding!!! I jumped, plunging into the chilly, yet refreshing water below. Did you really think I would pass up getting to jump from cliffs into the water? 

(Guess what Mom! I even remembered to take out my earrings before jumping so I would not lose them... again :) 

In the cultural shock department I only had one small lesson today... shoes are overrated, which I have been saying my whole life so of course I went hiking without them. I promise there is no better way to experience nature than allowing yourself to get right up in it :) 

There will be more adventures tomorrow, guaranteed! Since I have the day off and all. 

Aloha till then.