Day 13 - Flying back to Texas

Sadly, I did not extend my say this year because my mother and I went on a cruise in mid July. Great group of students! Here is part of the group back in Texas. Aloha!

Day 12 - Kilauea Lighthouse and Anini Reef

We got to do a super cool service learning activity with the Kilauea Lighthouse. We went to an area where they are doing bird research and needed a path made for the biologists to get out to nesting sites for research. The view were stunning. I also got to see some Laysan Albatross.  They were so cute!  They were at different stages of getting their adult feathers, so some looked pretty crazy!  Once they figure out how to fly, they do not return to land for 4 years!  Crazy!





Service Project

Before

After

The view at the other end of the new pathway was spectacular. 

The view at near the beginning of the new pathway was not bad either.

  

Once we were done, we headed to Anini Beach and Reef to complete one final reef collection. The tide had come in some, so it was a little rougher than normal, but still cool critters and beautiful.

Ended the stay in Kauai with one more (yes..this makes 3) fish tacos from the Sleeping Giant Cafe.

Day 11 - Up to Kalalau Valley Overlook, Salt Ponds, and Spouting Horn

Waimea Canyon lookout

Kokee Museum

  

Kalalau Valley Overlook

 

Reef collecting and Snorkeling at the Salt Ponds. Not much to find here! The tides were high and the waves were stronger than normal.

 

On to Spouting Horn and the Trash Conglomerate. 

 

Another trip over to the Sleeping Giant Cafe for Mochi Ono Fish Tacos.  YUMMY!

And a night activity with the students. 

Day 10 - National Tropical Botanical Gardens...part 1 and 2

The North Shore near Limahuli Gardens got large amounts of rain about a 2 months ago.  Over 40 inches of rain in 24 hours. It is closed to tourists and anyone that does not need to be back in there.  We worked with the Gardens to get us back there to help out and do some service learning projects. We got everything squared away (including passes from the Mayor), got in the convoy line, and then did not end up going in.  It was raining hard and there had been 12 mud slides.  It was going to be a challenge going in and even more of one coming out.  We ended up turning around and not going in.  They did set up a last minute service project with the other National Tropical Botanical Gardens near PoiPu. We got to see the McBryde gardens and help weed and plant some plants.

   

"My" plants

Some of the plants on the tour. 

 

 

Day 8 and 9 - Leaving the Big Island and Heading to Kauai and Activity Day

We packed up and headed to Kauai from the Big Island. We stay at the Plantation Hale which feels like a home away from home.  It is a nice condo with very comfortable beds.  We got checked in and I headed over to my favorite Island eatery....The Sleeping Giant Cafe.  It is behind the Coconut Marketplace. They have the BEST fish tacos.  I may have gone over there 3 times in my 5 days here. Just maybe. But they are the best.



Before making grocery store runs for the students, Erin and I headed to the LightWave Pottery studio.  I started pottery lesson over a year ago and have throughly enjoyed it. Someone sent me a video of this artist and studio.  He has some beautiful pottery.  I was not able to stay long and did not make it back.  Check it out if you make it to Kapaa, Kauai! Very nice man.

 

The next day was activity day. Students got to choose what they wanted to do...within reason! Some went on a kayaking trip to see Secret falls, some came to the beach with me, and some slept, did laundry, caught up on work, etc. I got to spend a little time on the beach in between running students back and forth.

 

I made some nachos for dinner.  Once again sad because Kate was not here to share it with me.

Day 7 - Carlsmith Beach Park, Imiloa, and Mauna Kea

We started out the day going to my piece of paradise.  We went out, collected some critters, and then set them free. I love this place.  It is just beautiful. There was not as much biodiversity here as there has been in the past.  Humm...wonder why? I also saw some red algae that I had not seen before. Hopefully there is nothing going on with the water quality.

 

When we were done, we drove back to the hotel, showered, changed, got some lunch and then went to Imiloa. We checked out some native and canoe plants.  This was especially important because we could not get up into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

 

After getting into our warm clothes, we went up to Mauna Kea so see the stars. We could also see the glow of the lava from the fissures. On our way down, we could really see the lava glow AND some actual lava spewing up...from a long distance, but it was impressive! I forgot my tripod attachment at home, so please forgive the shakeiness.

 

 

Day 6 - Dolphin Quest and Heading Back to Hilo

We had the opportunity to participate in an educational activity at Dolphin Quest at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Students got to learn about science careers and some husbandry behaviors they do with the dolphins. It was a beautiful hotel and a neat experience.  Makes me realize just how much I miss helping dolphins.

We got to touch the dolphins and feed them some stinky fish.  Here is our group picture after the dolphin encounter.

We got back to the hotel, packed up, and headed back over to the Hilo side of the island.

Day 5 - Geology and Snorkeling

Geology can really be very cool. We headed away from Kona today and got to see a lava lube.  I've walked through a lava tube before, but this was different.  The Thurston Lava Tubs is very neat to walk through, but this one was not touristy like the other. I walked down into the lava tube, but them came back out.  The students were able to walk through it and come out the other side.  It was really neat.

 

Someone made a heart on the lava rock.  I thought it was pretty.



After lunch, we went on a brutal hike up and up and up to see a cinder cone.

 

We decided that the students did a fantastic job so we also went snorkeling at Kahalu'u Beach park. OMG.  This place was amazing.  There were fish species that I've never seen before and sea urchins the size of a dinner plate.  It was fantastic!

  

Kona Canoe Club for dinner and then off to bed.