Sunday, August 14, 2011
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| Rainbow Falls |
This morning we checked out of our hotel and left rainy Hilo for the sunnier Waipio Valley. On our way there we stopped at Rainbow Falls. Known as the "drive-up" water fall, it has become a major tourist attraction. As soon as we got there, the buses showed up and the park was filled with tourists snapping photos.
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| Michelle and Jerry in front of Rainbow Falls |
We then drove to Tex Drive-In for lunch. Jerry ordered yet another plate lunch, this time opting for a curry stew with rice, while Michelle got a fish sandwich with a side of tatter tots. The food was decent, but the best part was the malasadas. Luckily we had finished eating when four bus loads of tourists showed up. This was our cue to get going, so we got back in our Jeep and were off to Waipio.
When we got to Kukuihaele, we parked our car on the side of Rt 240, directly infront of the lookout point. We grabbed our backpacks from the back of the Jeep and started walking down the steep Waipio Valley Rd. About 10 minutes into our descent, we realized that this hike might turn out to be a huge mistake.
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| Waipio Valley |
It was about 88 degrees that afternoon, and the sun was out in full force. Along the way, we passed some hikers who looked like they were about to pass out. This made us think that we should probably go back and instead drive the Jeep down, but against our better judgment, and restriction from the car rental agent, we persevered.
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| Hi'ilawe Falls with a papaya tree in the foreground |
When we reached the bottom of the valley, we continued down a paved road, passing mango and papaya trees and run-down shanties. A few minutes later, we came upon a clearing and were greeted by the spectacular site of Hi'ilawe Falls off in the distance.
We continued further down the road, passing more shanties with beaten-up pick-up trucks in the driveways, until we reached a small, two-foot wide stream in the middle of the road. In an attempt to cross, Michelle stepped right in the middle of it, getting her shoes and feet wet. We continued until we reached the much larger Hi'ilawe stream, about 15 or 20 feet wide. Unable to cross, we turned back. After Michelle changed into a dry pair of socks, we headed back.
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| Waipio Valley |
The hike back up Waipio Valley Rd, in the blistering afternoon sun, turned out to be the most excruciating hike either of us had ever taken on. The ascent is about .6 miles up about a 25% incline. The total rise is about 900 feet. Google Maps shows this as a 10 minute walk; incorrect. In the hour long struggle up the road, we had to stop maybe 6 or 7 times to rest. In the steepest parts we could walk for only about 3 or 4 minutes before having to take another break. This was torture. Completely covered in sweat, dehydrated (even though we each carried two bottles of water), and possibly delirious, somehow we managed to make it back to the top.
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| Bottom of Waipio Valley |
When we finally got back to the Jeep, we tore open our cooler and iced ourselves down. After changing into clean clothes, we were off to the Kone side of the island for the last leg of our vacation.
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| Rolling hills along Rt 19 in Waimea |
The drive accross the Big Island on Rt 19 took us around the north face of Mauna Kea. We drove by sheep grazing on perfectly manicured green, rolling hills that looked like they were borrowed from a movie set. Off in the distance was Mauna Kea. With its peak poking through the clouds, we could very clearly make out the telescopes of the Keck Observatory, about 25 miles away.
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Mauna Kea from Rt 19 in Waimea. (Click on the image to zoom in. The
white dots on top of the mountain are the telescopes of the Keck Observatory) |
When we finally got to our hotel, we were in for a treat. The Fairmont Orchid is the nicest hotel we had ever seen. We were blown away by the sheer opulence of the place. The pictures here don't serve it justice.
It took us about 10 minutes to get to our room from the front desk, walking through numerous hallways and outdoor courtyards that had the feel of a Roman villa. Our room had a giant marble bathroom with his and her showers and sinks - even complementary bathrobes. We were in heaven.
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| The Fairmont Orchid |
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| Michelle infront of the koi pond at the Fairmont |
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| Hallway with an outrigger canoe |
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| One of the many outdoor courtyards at the Fairmont |
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| Orchids along a courtyard railing |
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| Bar and lounge at the Fairmont |
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| The hallway to our room |
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| A gecko resting on a leaf in a courtyard at the Fairmont |
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| A green sea turtle (Honu) resting on a beach in front of the hotel |
