Hilo Hawaii 6 Oct 94

Rainforests & hula (Hilo, Hawaii)

Intrepid trekkers HI THERE, everyone. We are moving to Kona tomorrow and know we do not have a phone in the room - so we may be off the air until next Thursday when we are in San Franscisco. I hope we can "connect" in Kona, but this awaits on-the-spot checking.

Rainbow Falls, Hawaii Today we explored some of the eastern side of the island. We saw several falls - to reach one we walked for an hour's round trip through the most amazingly beautiful rainforest. We found a remote "scenic drive" that wound round through rainforest, emerging periodically beside cliff faces.

Hunting for a "black sand beach" (which we did not find, we'll try for another tomorrow) we found an oceanside park. Instead of sand there were volcanic rocks, which the kids enjoyed seeing how far they could throw into the water. (Justin is getting quite a good throw, Cathy's don't go very far.)

We then explored the rather run-down township of Hilo. We found a great bookshop of "maps and Hawaiiana". Cathy chose a colouring book with lots of info about Hawaiian animals, Justin chose a book of legends "Hawaiian Tales of Heroes and Champions" - from which, at present, it is difficult to drag him. We lunched at "Eve's Garden of Eating" - a converted drive-through petrol station with lots of plants, etc.

After stopping at another waterfall, we went to Mauna Loa - a macadamia plantation. We saw the process from orchard to processing, even to being set in chocolate. Incredibly labour intensive. We all ended up having a macadamia nut ice-cream.

Also there was a "nature walk" with a number of tropical plants, all labelled. Many we had seen during our drive today, so it was good (even briefly) to be able to name them. Many were types of ginger, which I know from yesterday's ranger talk to be imported species and interfering with the native plants - I almost felt guilty for admiring them. We stopped briefly at Hilo Hattie's - a souvenir place with lots of Hawaiian clothes and other souvenirs. The kids and I went in and each were given a necklace of shells, and I was offered a cup of Kona coffee. I didn't accept today, but hope to visit the Kona branch of the same shop in the next few days.

Back to the hotel because the kids were promised a last swim in the hotel pool and then we went for our one Hawaiian restaurant dinner. (We're self-catering from tomorrow.) David would have preferred another picnic in the room, but none of us regrets the way the evening worked out.

Cathy doing hula We walked to Uncle Billy's hotel next door where there was a live show with dinner. Two guys playing guitars and singing, and some of the time 1 or 2 girls doing a hula dance interpretation of some of the songs. At one stage they asked for volunteers from the audience to come and learn how to hula. Cathy volunteered - and no-one else from the audience would join her.

They dressed her (over her floral dress) in a green grass skirt, with pink and white flowers in a lei round her neck and in a garland on her hair. She looked so pretty. The male singer introduced her as "Catherine all the way from Australia" and that was the way they kept speaking of her. "Let's give a hand for Catherine all the way from Australia." "Welcome to C... "

She was standing on the stage and the 2 girls in the show first taught her the feet and a number of the hand movements and then they stood on the floor in front of the stage while she stood on the stage. The song was performed mostly slowly and quietly but then one last time "with gusto". She did very well and received a huge round of applause.

Cathy's hula certificate She was obviously very pleased with herself and thrilled when they later brought her a certificate for "graduating from the Uncle Billy's school of hula". As I say, it made the night for all of us.

Back to our room to pack in order to move on to Kona tomorrow. We were told that "unlike Hilo, Kona is really hot because it hardly ever rains or is cloudy there" - I hate to think what "really hot" weather is, because we look forward to the car's and hotel's air-con here. Anyway we don't expect to be able to connect on Compuserve for another week or so. So love and best wishes to you all. Hopefully you're re-assured that we're no longer awaiting the first plane home.

Bye for now from Kerry.

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