HAWAII -- 2024
TRIP OVERVIEW
We signed up for a geocaching tour on the Big Island (Hawaii) lead by Gary Lewis, President of GEOetc. He is an expert in volcanoes and leads tours in several countries. We extended our stay to include time on the islands of Oahu and Kauai.
On Oahu, we met teammates from the 2011 David Thompson Brigade and were able canoe in outrigger canoes. We visited the USS Arizona Memorial and found the oldest geocache in Hawaii. Hawaii was the only state where we had not found a geocache.
Kauai offered us the opportunity to see spinner dolphins and humpback whales on a boat tour along the Napali Coast. We kayaked the Hanalei River into the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge and visited the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge where we saw many types of birds including an albatross.
The Big Island (Hawaii). Volcanoes, geology, geocaching, history, wildlife and so much more. Traveled to all parts of the island seeing landscapes that changed from rainforests to desert.
We geocached most days we were in Hawaii and found 139 caches while there.
See our trip before and after Hawaii at To Arizona and Return Home or exit to Website Home Page
Hawaii
November 6 to 23
Should you be wondering, the islands' colors are: Oahu - yellow, Kauai - purple, Big Island (Hawaii) - red.
November 6 - 10
Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
November 6
Flew from Phoenix to Honolulu arriving midday. Afternoon was spent getting settled in and finding a few geocaches.
Flew from Phoenix to Honolulu arriving midday. Afternoon was spent getting settled in and finding a few geocaches.
November 7
We were up early and joined Bernie Kilonsky, a teammate on the 2011 David Thompson Brigade, to paddle outrigger canoes with his canoe club. Put-in time was 6:45am. Canoed about three miles in the Pacific Ocean bays of Honolulu. It was windy but did paddle a short stretch on the Pacific.
Spend the rest of the day geocaching including finding a Blowhole Virtual cache.
We were up early and joined Bernie Kilonsky, a teammate on the 2011 David Thompson Brigade, to paddle outrigger canoes with his canoe club. Put-in time was 6:45am. Canoed about three miles in the Pacific Ocean bays of Honolulu. It was windy but did paddle a short stretch on the Pacific.
Spend the rest of the day geocaching including finding a Blowhole Virtual cache.
November 8
Special Day. Visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial. Words cannot express the feelings and emotions felt.
Pictures show rainbow's end over the USS Arizona Memorial, memorial wall, oil slick from ship leaking about a quart of oil a day, USS Arizona anchor.
While working on a geocache, we needed to go where there were Naval personal giving a talk. It was raining and the area where people were sitting was covered. We took a seat to stay dry. It turned out to be a retirement ceremony for a 20 year submarine veteran. We stayed to the end. How fortunate we were to see this special ceremony. It just added to the emotions.
Special Day. Visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial. Words cannot express the feelings and emotions felt.
Pictures show rainbow's end over the USS Arizona Memorial, memorial wall, oil slick from ship leaking about a quart of oil a day, USS Arizona anchor.
While working on a geocache, we needed to go where there were Naval personal giving a talk. It was raining and the area where people were sitting was covered. We took a seat to stay dry. It turned out to be a retirement ceremony for a 20 year submarine veteran. We stayed to the end. How fortunate we were to see this special ceremony. It just added to the emotions.
November 9
We had breakfast with Bernie and Nancy Kilonsky (teammates on the 2011 David Thompson Brigade) at the Honolulu Elks Club. Enjoyed reminiscing and catching. Another unexpected event happened...a funeral was taking place at the Elks Club. It was not an ordinary funeral, but one that outrigger canoes were used to spread the ashes in the Pacific Ocean and family and friend dropped the flowers from their leis into the water.
After saying our good byes, we went geocaching and hiked over four miles. Most of it was over muddy trails with switchbacks while seeking Hawaii's oldest and Sharon's 10,000 find. That evening we attended an event hosted by a German geocaching couple visiting Hawaii.
We had breakfast with Bernie and Nancy Kilonsky (teammates on the 2011 David Thompson Brigade) at the Honolulu Elks Club. Enjoyed reminiscing and catching. Another unexpected event happened...a funeral was taking place at the Elks Club. It was not an ordinary funeral, but one that outrigger canoes were used to spread the ashes in the Pacific Ocean and family and friend dropped the flowers from their leis into the water.
After saying our good byes, we went geocaching and hiked over four miles. Most of it was over muddy trails with switchbacks while seeking Hawaii's oldest and Sharon's 10,000 find. That evening we attended an event hosted by a German geocaching couple visiting Hawaii.
November 10
We took a ride up the east coast of Oahu and found a few caches. Took a different route back to the hotel. Packed so we were ready for our flight to Kauai the next day.
We took a ride up the east coast of Oahu and found a few caches. Took a different route back to the hotel. Packed so we were ready for our flight to Kauai the next day.
November 11 - 15
Kauai Island, Kauai Shores Hotel, Kappa, Hawaii
Chickens are everywhere!
Kauai Island, Kauai Shores Hotel, Kappa, Hawaii
Chickens are everywhere!
November 11
Took the short flight to Kauai, the northern most island in Hawaii. Checked into great accommodations, unpacked, went grocery shopping, did laundry and got ready for tomorrow's activities.
Took the short flight to Kauai, the northern most island in Hawaii. Checked into great accommodations, unpacked, went grocery shopping, did laundry and got ready for tomorrow's activities.
November 12
Took a four-hour Makana Charters boat tour along the Napali coast. Saw spinner dolphins and humpback whales. Learned about the history of the area and got up close and personal with water falls and caves. A provided lunch stop gave those interested an opportunity to swim. Beautiful area.
Took a four-hour Makana Charters boat tour along the Napali coast. Saw spinner dolphins and humpback whales. Learned about the history of the area and got up close and personal with water falls and caves. A provided lunch stop gave those interested an opportunity to swim. Beautiful area.
November 13
Visited the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge. Saw the historic Lighthouse and lots of birds including albatross.
After lunch in Princeville, we head east to see exactly where Kayak Hanalei was located. We rented Kayaks from them the next day. We proceeded down the narrow, twisty downhill road to the ocean in the hope of seeing green sea turtles. One interesting sight was an egret sanding at the edge of the road literally looking in both directions to see when it could safely take off!
Visited the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge. Saw the historic Lighthouse and lots of birds including albatross.
After lunch in Princeville, we head east to see exactly where Kayak Hanalei was located. We rented Kayaks from them the next day. We proceeded down the narrow, twisty downhill road to the ocean in the hope of seeing green sea turtles. One interesting sight was an egret sanding at the edge of the road literally looking in both directions to see when it could safely take off!
November 14
Kayaked the Hanalei River. Enjoyed the round-trip paddle into the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.
Kayaked the Hanalei River. Enjoyed the round-trip paddle into the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.
November 15
Visited Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, fantastic views.
Found a few geocaches including a very hard-to-find cache at the entrance to a grocery store. Sharon found it on our third visit. We were far form the only ones requiring multiple visits to find.
Visited Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, fantastic views.
Found a few geocaches including a very hard-to-find cache at the entrance to a grocery store. Sharon found it on our third visit. We were far form the only ones requiring multiple visits to find.
November 16 - 21
Big Island (Hawaii), Hawaii
Arnott's Lodge, Hilo
Big Island (Hawaii), Hawaii
Arnott's Lodge, Hilo
November 16
Flew to Hilo and settled into Arnott's Lodge where we met other participants in the GEOetc trip "Geocache on the active Volcanoes of Hawaii" lead by Gary Lewis. The group went to Ken's for dinner and then stopped for groceries.
Flew to Hilo and settled into Arnott's Lodge where we met other participants in the GEOetc trip "Geocache on the active Volcanoes of Hawaii" lead by Gary Lewis. The group went to Ken's for dinner and then stopped for groceries.
November 17
We had a 7:30 breakfast at the lodge where Gary told us about the day's plans. We drove to Volcanoes National Park and visited the Kilauea volcano caldera where we saw venting steam. Hawaiian tradition considers the caldera a sacred place and the source of spiritual power.
We returned to Hilo early because of a medical emergency. The group cached in Hilo and had dinner at the lodge. One of several interesting caches found brought us to the Haha Stone. Tradition tells it was brought to Hilo by a Chief in a canoe centuries ago. The ability to lift and move the stone was a sign of high chiefly capacity. Kamehameha I is said to have lifted and moved the stone in 1789 when he was about 30 years old. Tradition said this confirmed he would be a great warrior king.
We had a 7:30 breakfast at the lodge where Gary told us about the day's plans. We drove to Volcanoes National Park and visited the Kilauea volcano caldera where we saw venting steam. Hawaiian tradition considers the caldera a sacred place and the source of spiritual power.
We returned to Hilo early because of a medical emergency. The group cached in Hilo and had dinner at the lodge. One of several interesting caches found brought us to the Haha Stone. Tradition tells it was brought to Hilo by a Chief in a canoe centuries ago. The ability to lift and move the stone was a sign of high chiefly capacity. Kamehameha I is said to have lifted and moved the stone in 1789 when he was about 30 years old. Tradition said this confirmed he would be a great warrior king.
November 18
Breakfast at 7:00, left for Volcanoe National Park at 8:15. Visited the Thruston Lava Tube that is on an active volcano. Lava tubes form on top of lava flows much like ice does on a river. We hiked to an interesting site where footprints were imbedded in the lava. The prints were left by men, women and children.
Stopped for a few caches on our drive back to Hilo. After a shopping stop in town we had free time before dinner at the lodge. There was time for the group to get to know each other better after dinner.
Breakfast at 7:00, left for Volcanoe National Park at 8:15. Visited the Thruston Lava Tube that is on an active volcano. Lava tubes form on top of lava flows much like ice does on a river. We hiked to an interesting site where footprints were imbedded in the lava. The prints were left by men, women and children.
Stopped for a few caches on our drive back to Hilo. After a shopping stop in town we had free time before dinner at the lodge. There was time for the group to get to know each other better after dinner.
November 19: Breakfast at 7:00, a long day.
Visited Pu'ukohota Heiau Natioinal Historic Site. Sharon was shown how to play a native checkers game called Konane that used black and white pebbles for game pieces. We walked thee trails, geocached and ate lunch at the site. We stopped for a geocache on the drive there and disturbed a heard of wild goats.
We stopped on our way to Kona for an old grafitii geocache. It required that you create grafitii on the lava with white stones or shells. Bill made a W (for Wisconsin). This is against current regulations, so after completing, we picked up the stones and placed them in a bag Gary had brought. CITO in action. In Kona we found a Webcam, ate diner while being closely watched, and took pictures of the sunset. It was about an eighty-mile drive back to Hilo.
Visited Pu'ukohota Heiau Natioinal Historic Site. Sharon was shown how to play a native checkers game called Konane that used black and white pebbles for game pieces. We walked thee trails, geocached and ate lunch at the site. We stopped for a geocache on the drive there and disturbed a heard of wild goats.
We stopped on our way to Kona for an old grafitii geocache. It required that you create grafitii on the lava with white stones or shells. Bill made a W (for Wisconsin). This is against current regulations, so after completing, we picked up the stones and placed them in a bag Gary had brought. CITO in action. In Kona we found a Webcam, ate diner while being closely watched, and took pictures of the sunset. It was about an eighty-mile drive back to Hilo.
November 20
Visited South Point, the southernmost point in the United States. From there we visited the green sand beach which involved a two-mile stand in-the-back of a pickup truck ride. Beautiful scenery and a fun ride for all.
The black sand beaches and green sea turtles were next on the list. On the way to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park we stopped for a geocache located near satellite dishes used in the Apollo space missions. Saw the sea turtles which was high on Sharon's want-to-see list. The group had their pick of restaurants in Hilo. Eight of us chose the Pineapple...it was a good choice.
Visited South Point, the southernmost point in the United States. From there we visited the green sand beach which involved a two-mile stand in-the-back of a pickup truck ride. Beautiful scenery and a fun ride for all.
The black sand beaches and green sea turtles were next on the list. On the way to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park we stopped for a geocache located near satellite dishes used in the Apollo space missions. Saw the sea turtles which was high on Sharon's want-to-see list. The group had their pick of restaurants in Hilo. Eight of us chose the Pineapple...it was a good choice.
November 21: East Coast day.
Arrived at Waipio Lookout in time to see the scenic view before fog came in. Made a geocaching stop in Honokaa. One required going to the public library.
Laupahoe Point Beach Park is the site of a tsunami memorial. The memorial was for the 24 people killed by a high wave that destroyed the school located here. The wave was caused by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands that created a 55' high wave that traveled at 500 mph across the ocean to Hawaii on April 1, 1946. We found caches, ate lunch and took a group picture here. Stopped in Hilo for some caching before heading to lodge to do laundry and pack. We had an outstanding dinner at the lodge prepared by group leaders...shrimp, salmon, chicken, salad, mashed potatoes, asparagus, desert, drinks.
Arrived at Waipio Lookout in time to see the scenic view before fog came in. Made a geocaching stop in Honokaa. One required going to the public library.
Laupahoe Point Beach Park is the site of a tsunami memorial. The memorial was for the 24 people killed by a high wave that destroyed the school located here. The wave was caused by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands that created a 55' high wave that traveled at 500 mph across the ocean to Hawaii on April 1, 1946. We found caches, ate lunch and took a group picture here. Stopped in Hilo for some caching before heading to lodge to do laundry and pack. We had an outstanding dinner at the lodge prepared by group leaders...shrimp, salmon, chicken, salad, mashed potatoes, asparagus, desert, drinks.
Trip Video by Bill Blood
Pictures on this page with "Geocaching in Hawaii" in the upper left hand corner are from this video.
YouTube video "Geocaching in Hawaii". (Link will transfer you out of this website)
Pictures on this page with "Geocaching in Hawaii" in the upper left hand corner are from this video.
November 22 - 25
Big Island (Hawaii), Hawaii
Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hilo
View from our window showing cruise ship arriving and view from the bathroom.
Big Island (Hawaii), Hawaii
Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hilo
View from our window showing cruise ship arriving and view from the bathroom.
November 22:
This was departure day for Gary Lewis' geo tour of the Big Island (Hawaii). Goodbyes were said and the group headed to the airport for flights home or to pick up rental cars. After we loaded our stuff into the rental car at the Lodge, we headed into Hilo. We had lunch at Ken's, visited some local areas to see wildlife and found a few geocaches before checking into our room...very nice accommodations. A leisurely day.
This was departure day for Gary Lewis' geo tour of the Big Island (Hawaii). Goodbyes were said and the group headed to the airport for flights home or to pick up rental cars. After we loaded our stuff into the rental car at the Lodge, we headed into Hilo. We had lunch at Ken's, visited some local areas to see wildlife and found a few geocaches before checking into our room...very nice accommodations. A leisurely day.
November 23:
Spent the day in Hilo. Visited the Pacific Tsunami Museum and the Makupapapa Discovery Center, did some geocaching and hiking and some plain old relaxing.
Spent the day in Hilo. Visited the Pacific Tsunami Museum and the Makupapapa Discovery Center, did some geocaching and hiking and some plain old relaxing.
November 24:
After breakfast at the hotel we found a few Hilo caches and then headed to Kona. On the way we saw a large herd of goats? sheep? We also encountered a group on goats on the road near the Kona Sea Salt Company where we had reservations for a tour. It was interesting how they process salt water to make a variety of sea salt products. The salt is made from pure, 900 year-old deep ocean water that is rich in natural minerals. The salt water is drawn from 2,200 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park was our next stop. We took the very interesting walking/narrated tour. Need to learn more about this amazing park and the history of this area. It was then a ninety-mile drive back to Hilo.
After breakfast at the hotel we found a few Hilo caches and then headed to Kona. On the way we saw a large herd of goats? sheep? We also encountered a group on goats on the road near the Kona Sea Salt Company where we had reservations for a tour. It was interesting how they process salt water to make a variety of sea salt products. The salt is made from pure, 900 year-old deep ocean water that is rich in natural minerals. The salt water is drawn from 2,200 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park was our next stop. We took the very interesting walking/narrated tour. Need to learn more about this amazing park and the history of this area. It was then a ninety-mile drive back to Hilo.
November 26:
We arrived at airport early because of an anticipated longer check-in. After checking in, it was breakfast at the airport. The "Luxury" seating on concourse at the food court was most comfortable. The departure gates were in an open air gate areas. After flying to Honolulu we had a four hour wait for our flight to Phoenix. Arrived in there at 12:15 am. Took Uber to Todd's.
We arrived at airport early because of an anticipated longer check-in. After checking in, it was breakfast at the airport. The "Luxury" seating on concourse at the food court was most comfortable. The departure gates were in an open air gate areas. After flying to Honolulu we had a four hour wait for our flight to Phoenix. Arrived in there at 12:15 am. Took Uber to Todd's.
See our trip before and after Hawaii at To Arizona and Return Home or exit to Website Home Page