So long, and thanks for all the fishes.

After three weeks and 12 cities, we're making our way back to (from what I hear) our snow covered home.

We left Volcano and our happy little bed & breakfast (Aloha Crater Lodge) to explore the southern part of Hawai'i. A very rough 12 mile drive down a one lane road took us to the most Southern point in the US where the waves crashed away on the shore and there were no signs of civilization, save the cattle and horses mulling about and the wind energy turbines spinning in the stiff wind.

On the way up the Kona coast, we discovered optic lens snorkel goggles for Tom (much more fun to snorkel when you can see :>) and decided to make our way about 15 miles South of Kona to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.
There's not much of a beach, which worked out fine for us since we just wanted to get to the water! Our first trip out we saw a ton of fish and almost made our way out to sea, but the second trip out was beyond words. We turned off from the entry point and swam south a bit to an area where there is little is any shore - mostly just broken lava flows into the water. This place is completely breathtaking...30 feet of crystal clear water, coral formations of all shapes and sizes, and a stunning array of marine life. At points we were surrounded by schools of fish and swimming alongside a rather contented looking puffer fish. Somehow two hours went by and at that point the sun was hanging low in the sky. As we headed in, I felt a tap on my back - Tom had just pulled up on the boat launch and was warning me to stop as I was (unwittingly) about to swim headfirst into a 4 foot sea turtle! I hung out and waited for the turtle to take the natural path away from me, drinking in the last few minutes of sun, seawater and snorkeled air.

We finished off with a plate of sashimi and a Yo Mama! roll (this was something akin to a spicy rainbow roll for all you sushi fans) at Fujimama's along the coast.