Winter Get-Away in Hawaii

Kerynn really knows how to show a cephalopod a good time. And extremes. Because after a whirlwind tour of Fairbanks, AK, she whisked Jack off to Hawaii's big island. Here's what they did...

Preparing for a stand-up paddleboard outing from Kona.

Admiring an outrigger canoe: one of the Kona canoe clubs paddles out of the same cove Kerynn and Jack used. No canoeing for them this trip, though...

At Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park on his first full day in Hawaii, taking in the sun and palm trees.

At Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park, with the bay in the background where Kerynn went snorkeling. When she was there in spring, Kerynn's friend saw an octopus here, so this is probably the closest thing to a family reunion Jack had. 

At Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park, waiting for someone to play a game of konane with him. 

On the road up to the Mauna Kea visitor center. Kerynn forgot to take a picture of him there with some of the telescopes they put out for visitors, but the stargazing was amazing!

Enjoying some ahi poke (the flavor was called "Pele's Kiss" - just a little bit on the zippy side) with seaweed salad, rice and a locally-produced orange passion fruit drink. If the family was more into raw fish (they're not at all), Kerynn and Jack would have had it for lunch every day.

At South Point, the southernmost point in the US. Kerynn says, "Some people are crazy enough to jump into these crystal-clear waters from the bluff. But between the heights and the prospect of getting swept away to the South Pacific, I preferred to keep my feet dry. :)"

At South Point, the southernmost point in the US. Kerynn says, "Some people are crazy enough to jump into these crystal-clear waters from the bluff. But between the heights and the prospect of getting swept away to the South Pacific, I preferred to keep my feet dry. :)"

On Punalu'u black sand beach between South Point and Kilauea. Look closely: the lumps in the background are sea turtles, not rocks!

At Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, overlooking the Kilauea caldera at sunset

At Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, overlooking the Kilauea caldera the next morning.

On the floor of the Kilauea caldera at Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park during our ranger-led hike. (Hey! Our group made the Park's FB feed: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=750297134997625&set=a.360190957341580.105080.346533252040684&type=1&relevant_count=1)

On the floor of the Kilauea caldera at Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park during our ranger-led hike. 

At the end of Chain of Craters Road (where the lava meets the road). The road used to go along the coast, but got cut off in 2003.

At the end of Chain of Craters Road (where the lava meets the road). The road used to go along the coast, but got cut off in 2003.

At the end of Chain of Craters Road (where the lava meets the road). The road used to go along the coast, but got cut off in 2003.

On the rainy side of the island, at the Japanese gardens at Lilioukalani Gardens in Hilo.

Thanks again, Kerynn. And now Jack's en route to Nairobi, Kenya.

Here's a map of Jack's adventures so far. (The traveling tapir spent the holidays in London. You can find out about that here.)


Stay tuned for more!