South Point & Green Sands Beach

Last week we went to South Point (Ka Lai), which is the southernmost point on the Big Island, and, consequently, the southern most point in the United States. It is vast and windswept. The water at the point itself is calm--you can safely jump off the cliffs--but just a few hundred yards away the ocean surges and waves crash on the rocks.




If you look hard enough, you can see Antarctica in the distance.









A 2.5 mile walk along the rocky coast from Ka Lai brings you to this gem of a spot--Green Sands Beach. The walk is over lava fields and brings you past the most ancient human settlements on the island. Stone structures built first by the original Polynesian settlers 1,300 years ago, and rebuilt by anyone camping along the coast in the many years since. At the beach itself, the sand has been eroded from an outcrop of lava with a high olivine content. This means the sand is green. The waves are perfect for body surfing in this little cove. It is sheltered from the main pounding of the waves that cross thousands of miles of open ocean, but the wind can be fierce.

Lava Tree State Monument

Near to the place we are staying and working, on the south eastern slopes of Kilauea next to the sea, we ran across Lava Tree State Monument. Here you can see a mature rain forest, and among the living trees there are lava trees. These rock formations are caused by lava flowing around a living tree. Because the tree contains so much water, it is not instantly incinerated, and the first layers of lava cool in the shape of the tree. The water quickly vaporizes and the tree burns away, but left behind are these chimneys of cooled lava. The liquid lava receded into giant cracks in the ground, leaving cleared land and lava trees.

Eventually, the forest grows back among the lava trees. This particular forest is over 200 years old, as the lava trees were formed in the lava flow of 1790. This is a most beautiful and serene place.

Volcanoes National Park

Soon after our arrival, we spent a few days at Volcanoes National Park, which is absolutely amazing. The park consists of two of the three active volcanoes that comprise the Big Island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

Mauna Loa is the 13,000 ft mountain that can be seen in the distance behind our tent. The main caldera of Kilauea can be seen smoldering in the eighth photo down. Kilauea is the most active volcano on the planet, and we spent some time hiking around its slopes through lava fields and rain forest, into lava tubes and to the coast where the lava forms huge cliffs and a sea arch. One of our hikes was right across the caldera itself--two miles across the baked and smoking landscape, across gaping cracks in the crust and scalpel sharp a'a lava.

Above Kilauea, on the slopes of Mauna Loa, we found a Kapuka, which is an area of raised land that escaped a lava flow. A mature forest has grown up on a small patch of land that is surrounded by desolation. It was here that we discovered the mighty Koa trees growing to their full stature. Obviously we couldn't resist the opportunity for a family portrait.

Since we were camping at 4,000 ft, there were cool breezes and no bugs, and the sky was unbelievably clear. I was awakened in the middle of the first night by a bright light shining into the tent which I at first thought was someone's flashlight, but turned out to be Jupiter.

We could have happily spent more time in the park, but we are, unfortunately, working our way around the world, and we had to return to our jobs.

Two nights ago the volcano reminded us that it makes up the whole island when we had an earthquake of 4.2. You don't leave the volcano when you leave the park.

KoaMaya's World Trek Itinerary '07-'08

Sept 29/30, 2007 NYC to The Big Island, Hawaii
Our address while in Hawaii is Kalani Retreat, RR2 Box 4500, Pahoa, HI 96778.
Our cellphones will be able to take messages until Dec 2nd, after that they will be inoperative for the remainder of the trip.

Dec 1/2, 2007 Hawaii to Auckland, New Zealand via Fiji
While in NZ we hope to WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) and maybe spend some time working for an adventure outfitter on the North Island.

Jan 17/18, 2008 Auckland, New Zealand to Kathmandu, Nepal via Bangkok
In Nepal we plan to visit Kathmandu, Pokhara and other spots as we travel to Jude's villages (Peace Corps '90-'91). We hope to trek the Anapurna Circuit, possibly hike up to Everest Base Camp and will be volunteering at Sam's House, an orphanage in Pokhara.

Feb 19, 2008 Kathmandu to Bangkok, Thailand
Our time in Thailand will be purely vacation time, we hope to complete a scuba course in the warm and beautiful South China Sea.

Feb 27, 2008 Bangkok to Beijing, China
We will be volunteering in Yantai, Shandong Province through Global Volunteer Network/Sinoculture Exchange for two months. We will be volunteering teaching English to Chinese students and traveling the country on our off time.

Overland From China to Paris, France
We plan to travel via the Trans-Mongolian Railway from China to Russia, through Mongolia. Beyond that we will make our way into Europe to visit Jude's family in Italy and France, and my friend Julia in Germany.

June 5, 2008 Paris, France to Newark, NJ
Back for some summer fun with all our friends and family- get ready for the slide show!

*This is the most complete trip scheme we are able to provide at this time, it is all very subject to change. The best way to be in contact with us will be via email, debbie.koamaya@gmail.com and philip.jude.koamaya@gmail.com. We are planning to whip up a blog once we have fun photos and good stories to share. A warm invitation to anyone who may be able to join us along the journey.