Grown-UPs only Vacation!

On New Years Day we set out for our first ever vacation without kids(since having kids). We utilized our bajillion miles we racked up flying back and forth to Guam, and flew to warm Hawaii in the middle of the cold Nebraska winter. Turns out Volcano National Park isn't exactly warm. If you ever go, pack more than shorts and t-shirts. We ended up reusing the warm clothes we wore on the plain while exploring and hiking in the park. The lower elevations on the Big Island are warmer though, so I'm glad we had planned to spend half of our time down near the beach.

We stayed at the Military Camp right inside Volcano National Park. We had a cute little cabin, and it was all decorated with Christmas lights. Fun!
Observing the volcano crater.
Hiking on hardened lava up to the top of Pu'HuluHulu (spelling? I don't have my references here with me)

It was really beautiful when we reached the top. Not something you see everyday. Volcanoes and hardened lava. It was also chilly and rainy. The sign said be prepared for driving rain... good thing we brought the umbrella; we had driving rain on the way back down.

Another picture of the cabins at the Military Camp. It was great driving up to these at night; made us feel right at home.

Akaka falls. Didn't quite get the drinking the waterfall thing right. There was a group of people behind D while we were taking the picture cheering me on, so of course I got embarrassed and wanted to stop before we got the picture right.
Huge Hawaiian tree. I never saw what kind of tree it is.
The one place you can still see moving lava on the island. The day before we were there that sign right befind Davy was in front of the lava flow. Overnight, the lava engulfed the sign! What amazed us was that people had homes built out on top of this stuff. They lived right there with the molten lava! CRAZY! Right behind Davy there was a sign that said Private Drive, No Trespassing... The lava didn't obey the sign... it trespassed, and there is no longer a Private Drive there.
While we were watching some lava oozed up and out, so cool! All over you could hear these little popping sounds like Rice Krispies where the hardened lava was expanding and breaking apart.
Black Sand Beach.
Our feet in the ocean at the Southern most point in the United States.
And the regular beach at the resort we lived it up in for a few days. Thank you grandparents for watching our boys so we could take an awesome vacation!