From Volcano to Bayfront...
Our Hilo Getaway Vacation!

I love Hilo. It's a slow town that seems to have been frozen in time and it's almost always overcast or in between passing showers, but I love the place.

The many streams in Hilo which make their way into the bay make for water conditions that aren't the most spectacular, but the unusual rock lava rock formations that form the district's coastline make it a pretty scenic spot like no other in the state.

My brother-in-law's wedding reception in Hilo was a great excuse for Dawn and me to show the girls that side of the Big Island.

We thought it would be nice to spend a few more bucks and get a slightly nicer hotel room than the ones I usually stay in during my business trips to Hilo.

Having stayed at the Naniloa Hotel a few times in the past, I thought it would be nice to get one of their oceanfront rooms so we could enjoy the view of Hilo Bay. The rates for their oceanfronts were extremely reasonable so we went ahead and booked three nights.

When the confirmation e-mail came, I noticed the header said Naniloa Volcanoes Resort/Volcano House. We had thought about taking the girls to see the volcano during this trip so I called back and found they operated both the Naniloa Hotel on Hilo Bay as well as the Volcano House, the only lodging facility within the Volcanoes National Park!

As it turned out, we ended up switching our reservations to include our first night at the Volcano House and the other two nights at the Naniloa Hotel a combination that turned out to be a bargain trip we plan to repeat very soon! Despite the rain and almost constant overcast, we had a great time even if I didn't have a chance to get the beach shots I had wanted!

Checking into the crater-rim-view room at the Volcano House late in the evening and looking out the window into the silent darkness gave me a feeling of intense excitement. I knew that laying out there in the darkness was one of the greatest spectacles on earth, the Kilauea Caldera! I felt like a kid on Christmas eve waiting for the morning.

The room had the charm befitting the historic place it was and its décor and koa furniture really made for a touch of simple elegance that we enjoyed in the blissful absence of a T.V. We will be back!

In the morning we awoke to the spectacular view and serenity of the Kilauea Caldera. Before long, the fog rolled in over the crater obscuring the view, but not before we had a chance to witness the majesty and wonderment of this place.

I took a couple of pictures from the lookout, just below our room, before we went into the restaurant for a hearty buffet breakfast made even better by the crisp cool air and the breathtaking view of the crater from our table.

After breakfast we packed up and headed down the Crater Rim Road the first stop being the Thurston Lava Tube where I found out my camera battery was just about depleted.

We then traveled to the end of the road leading to the current lava flow. After walking nearly a kilometer after the road closure, then another five hundred meters or so over lava, we finally saw in the distance the steam caused by lava flowing into the ocean. Thank God, my camera was able to take that one last picture--albeit not spectacular, a record of our trek!

With Dawn and the girls having fallen asleep after our hike to see the lava flowing into the ocean, I decided to drive straight to Hilo so we could check into the Naniloa.

Located right on the oceanfront, the Naniloa is one of the most striking properties in the beautiful Banyan Circle Drive. Its close proximity to the beautifully landscaped Liliuokalani Gardens makes the Naniloa a wonderful place to stay and the rates are pretty competitive! There are less expensive hotels in the area, but the Naniloa is worth the few extra bucks!

Although we were dogged by rain much of the time we were in Hilo, I managed to get a few pictures but nothing close to what I had wanted for this picturesque location. Next time!

The time we spent was much too short but the vote is to get back soon. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of our whirlwind getaway!

The view from the lanais really let you take in the beauty of the bay while watching anything from kayaks to ocean liners navigating the channel...

or admiring the bonsai-like ironwoods that grow out of the lava rock along the bayfront!

Rainbow Falls is a five minute drive from the Hotel and a "must see" especially after heavy rains!

Onekahakaha Beach Park is characteristic of the many gigantic tide pools formed by lava depressions along Hilo's coastline.

Seaside Restaurant & Aqua Farm grows its own fish in the pond and serves some great seafood dishes... my favorites being the fried aholehole, steamed mullet, and fried moi!

Exploring the shops along the bayfront of downtown Hilo was, of course, a highlight for the girls...

as was treating ourselves to the strawberry mochi at Two Ladies Kitchen on Kilauea Avenue.

Please tell them we'll be back for more of their delicious mochi soon!