Hawaii

We visited Hawaii in late January and early February, 2013.  First we spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii's Kohala (northwest) coast, then we visited the "garden island" of Kauai for five days.

The Big Island is more rural and much larger than the other Hawaiian islands.  Our hotel on the Kohala coast is north of Kona, where many resorts are located and some of the world's best coffee is grown.  The Big Island's huge volcanoes (Mauna Kea, 13,803', and Mauna Loa, 13,679') dominate the island's middle, while Kīlauea on the east side continually spews lava into the Pacific.  When we visited, humpback whales were migrating near our hotel and we saw them from our hotel and while I was diving.

The Big Island's South Point has an important geographic distinction: it is the southernmost point in the United States.  We have visited South Point before, in 1996; it is down a long rough road, barren and windy, but the view out over the open Pacific is beautiful.  We enjoyed seeing it again in 2013, and sharing it with you via America Out of the Box!

After we visited the Big Island, we spent a five days on Kauai.  From a hotel in Kapaʻa on the east coast, we traveled to some of the beautiful bays and beaches on Kauai's north side.  There, we met a longtime friend who visits this lush tropical island every year.  I also spent two mornings diving near Poipu on Kauai's south side.