Saddle Road (Kauman Caves)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200 (a/k/a Saddle Road)
Entrance to the Kaumana Caves
A lava tube from an eruption in 1881 makes a cave just off the highway. A concrete staircase allows for easy access down, and from there one can choose to explore (we didn't have time nor appropriate footwear for the slick ground). The sides of the wall are lined with ferns, with vines hanging down from the upper area. Rainforest plants line the floor of the exposed open area.

Oh, and in case you might forget, back up at the level of the highway there's hardened lava to remind you what created this area.

2 July 09

Hanging in Hawaii

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Saddle Road, near the Kaumana Cave, this tree is adorned with these long, streaming vines.

2 July 09

Saddle Road (between Mauna Kea and Kaumana Caves)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road
Scenes from a moving rental car of the area east of Mauna Kea and west of the Kaumana Caves, as the landscape transitions from rocky lava beds to more lush rainforest (or vice versa, depending on the direction). (In the distance in this first shot is Hilo.)

2 July 09

Solar gazing

Big Island of Hawaii
Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center
Telescope set out on the patio for looking up at the sun.



2 July 09

Saddle Road (Mauna Kea Visitor Center)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a detour up the Mauna Kea Road, around the grounds surrounding the Visitor Information Center.
This was as far as we could get without a 4WD vehicle. But yes, we were above the clouds (at around 9,200 feet).

2 July 09

Saddle Road (detour up Mauna Kea Road)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a moving rental car, traveling up (or down, depending on your direction) the Mauna Kea Road to (or from) the Visitor Center.






Next to last is looking back up the beginning of the road (as it disappears into the clouds).
The last one is back down on the Saddle Road, looking over the lava fields toward Mauna Loa.
2 July 09

Saddle Road (near Mauna Kea State Park)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from a quick stop in part of what I think is Mauna Kea State Park. Flowers, plants, trees, and what's probably weeds.

Saddle Road (west)

Big Island of Hawai'i
Along Hwy 200, a/k/a Saddle Road.
Scenes from the area in the northwest part of the highway, near Parker Ranch. Shots from a moving rental car.

Slopes of Mauna Kea and clouds.

One of the many one-lane bridges in the western portion of the Saddle Road. I think that's Mauna Loa in the distance.

Shadow of a cloud on a cinder cone, with power lines in the foreground.

Tall grass along the side of the road.

Ubiquitous including-the-side-view-mirror shot.

Yep, sheep.

Morning sun between trees coming through the sunroof.

2 July 09