Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

"Look, Mama, a honeybee!" I turned from watching Kilauea's smouldering caldera to an o'hia tree beside the viewing deck. My son has learned to share the small, valuable things in life, and we have been seeing few bees lately. I focused my camera on the lehua flower, and noticed the barren volcano caldera behind the tree. Our family trip to the Big Island, on the spur of the moment, was full of excitement and wonder. I remember driving the winding road up Mauna Kea to visit the astronomy center, and viewing the fields of old lava between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. One of my favorite memories was seeing the Kona Coast spread before us as we entered paniolo country. Hilo side of the island was full of deep green tropical forests and stunning waterfalls. But my most treasured memory is that moment, shared with my family, and the beauty of Pele's lehua flowers at Kilauea.