In the land of fire

Hilo is the capital of the Big Island of Hawaii and its biggest city with a population of 60,000, 4,000 of whom are students at the Hilo branch of the University of Hawaii. It is a town of working people, mostly engaged in agriculture, including cattle ranching. The farmers no longer plant sugar cane but harvest papaya, bananas, vanilla, coffee, macadamia nuts, orchids and other exotic flowers. As you climb to higher ground this region gets as much as 20 feet of rain each year.

The first settlers came to the Big Island from Polynesia around 800 A.D. Captain Cook brought while settlers almost 1,000 years later, around 1778.

Banyan trees, which are native to India, are everywhere on the Big Island, their seeds germinate on the tree and send down roots to the ground, taking up a lot of space. In 1933 Babe Ruth planted an entire acre of banyan trees in Hilo. So did many other dignitaries.

There are black-sand beaches on this island, resulting from the volcanic ashes; the bigger and better-known beaches are on the West side near Kona. There are no native mammals here but many varieties of native birds, as well as those brought later by settlers. There are no bats and only one species of (harmless) snakes.

The last two major tsunamis to hit this island were in 1946 and 1960, although the killer wave that devastated northern Japan in 2011 caused minor damage here.

Volcanoes created the Hawaiian Islands nearly 70 million years ago. Two of the world's most active volcanoes are Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and they are still adding land to the Big Island. Mauna Loa stands 56,000 feet above the depressed sea floor – that’s more than 27,000 feet taller than Mt. Everest. However, Mt. Everest is 29,029 feet above sea level, while this volcano is only 13,679 feet above sea level. Ascending it without acclimating one's body is not a good idea. Kilauea, only 35 minutes from downtown Hilo, is 4,000 feet above sea level. Geologists, biologists, seismologists and other scientists do research and show their findings at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. One can see sulfurous vapors coming from huge calderas, or craters, with lava lakes where temperatures reach 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. Walking on hardened lava is like walking on broken glass. Volcano tubes, or caves, are carved by hot lava -- standing10 to 20 feet high inside.
 

After departing Hilo, our next stop for fuel was Honolulu on the island of Oahu, a 12-hour voyage from Hilo. The approach to the harbor was exciting as several whales and some dolphins escorted our ship. Oahu's green mountains, scattered with clusters of white homes, rose in the distance. Skyscrapers line the coast, making Honolulu look like a typical American city. Nearly 1 million people live on Oahu, with a daily average temperature between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. It is a paradise for tourists.

We have already set our clocks back four times and will do so again before we cross the International dateline, meaning we will lose a day.

Sunsets on the ocean are breathtaking. This photo was taken by a young man from Mexico with his iPhone. Juan and two young ladies are my "adopted" children on this voyage. Each of us Lifelong Learners have volunteered to take several students under our wings. We are available to listen, guide, advise or otherwise be an adult influence on them. Betsy, from Wilmette, Illinois, is a sophomore at a small liberal arts school in Michigan. Sierra is from a small town in Idaho but goes to school in Boise. Most students are juniors or seniors in college.