Hawaii - The Big Island

Our second port of call was Hilo. Here's the view before breakfast. I don't know which volcano that is.

Here's the balcony view docked in Hilo.

Asthma prevented me from going to an active eruption area, but I was still able to go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and walk around on a volcano. Well, actually, as soon as you step ashore on any of the Hawaiian islands you're on a volcano!

I had better luck taking pictures from the bus in Hilo because we weren't moving as fast. In this one, you can see the Grand Princess off in the distance. Our driver said the ship is taller than any of the buildings in town.

We traveled down Banyan Drive (which has a Wiki page!). Many of the trees have signs in front of them indicating which famous person planted it. There's a Babe Ruth tree, a Richard Nixon tree, and many others. The large one in the photo is the Amelia Earhart tree. 

I don't remember the name of this place, but it's typical of the topography I saw driving along the coast. 

Our driver took us straight to Kīlauea because it was a beautiful morning and who knew when clouds might role in. Here's part of an information sign at the Jagger Museum overlook. 

Approaching the area where I took many pictures. The volcano ignores the no smoking sign. 

The sunken area with the smoke emerging is Halema'uam'u crater within the much larger Kīlauea caldera. It's a moon-like landscape, quietly eery. 

We took Crater Rim Drive around for the view from Kīlauea Iki crater. 

Hawaii sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and so is vulnerable to tsunamis generated anywhere around the Pacific rim. This is a tsunami warning siren. 

Our last stop was the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. The factory was closed (it was Sunday), but of course the gift shop and cafe were open. I bought mac nuts and Kona coffee to bring home. Macadamia nut ice cream is marvelous! Just sayin'. 

Back at the dock, the Grand Princess. That sign - I don't even know. 

The view from my balcony later in the day, not long before we sailed. Those tug boats were for us.  See all that rain over the mountains? 

I feel fortunate that there was no rain during my excursion on the island.  

Our next port:  Lahaina!