…as planed i left the Hostel for staying 2 nights in South Kona. I packed my stuff during an short break where the sun was looking through a short spot between the rain clouds which dried my tent well. The road up again through the National Park, offered and ride for hitch-hikers again, which also needed a ride to South Kona. Last visit on the crater, because todays weather on the volcano was perfect. As it was raining in the last day and night, more water was sickening in to the ground and it produced more smoke and steam vents. Headed downwards tell the “End of Road” was reached where the lava flow 80ies and 2008 blocked the road. Sadly not much to see, expect the huge plateau crated by lava which increased the size of the island more then some square kilometres.
After dropping my guests, i bought some stuff and made Schinkennudeln for Alan and David, who worked very hard on the house to get it mosquito free. A mosquito net fenced the terrace. Alan proudly show me the house and my place to sleep. Very nice spot, even my sleeping place, on top of an car port outside with an overlook till the sea. Hugs, i got a bit too much pepper into the Schinkennulden, so they got renamed by David to Pfefferschinkennudeln :-). Last but not least i got the first chance to watch US TV and we watched the old Batman TV series…
South Kona woke me up, as the first sun ray shined in my face, instead of hearing rain drops. The garden looked beautiful in the morning sun, i got an delicious breakfast with fruits which gave me an good energy shot for the day and my excursion to the most southern point of the United States. Watched the down the cliffs, a place where you can usually jump from about 10-12m hight in the ocean and climb by an latter back to the top. Due to the high waves and current, i decided not to jump, because i felt unsafe and seemed to be dangerous. Even non of the locals was jumping in. Just to dangerous to get pushed agains the cliffs or soaked into the blowhole. Destination Green Sands Beach, which was just a spit away. I don’t know why i forgot that this would be an 40-60 minutes hike to the beach, so i forgot my camelbag, walked with flip flops and forgot to use sunscreen. The dirt road was only drivable by real 4WD off-road cars, which was driving up and down and offering an ride down for $10. No, that was too much and i preferred to walk all the way. Reached the beach and recognised that this beach isn’t that green like i expected, it was more an olive/brown one.
In the meantime Alan contacted me again, that they gonna be at 6pm at the Hilton to try the night snorkelling with the mantas again. One of my first days at an beach started at Hookena Beach where sometimes dolphins are sighted, but of course not at this day. Jumped into the waves and got me refreshing bath. Getting back to the car i mentioned now my black “socks”. The almost black sand formed some kind of socks on my feet. I got the tip from Alan to drive one beach further to “2 Step”, an very good place for snorkelling because this spot is protected from high waves and surfs. Almost a slight up and down was there, which gave me an very good and nice trip through corals and the living fishes down there. On my way back to the Hilton, i stopped a bit above this spot to see the sunset. Reached the Hilton, we saw an boat outside and some people inside the water, so we got dressed for trying the night dive/snorkelling. The waves on the cliff where strong as yesterday. Alan and David did scuba diving, while Randy and me just went snorkelling. Stuffed in wet suit, fins, torch and mask we jumped in to the dark sea and headed to the spot, which was near the cliffs. First time snorkelling in the darkness near cliffs made me really scared and afraid. The first half an hour was worse, but then it got better and it was a great adventure. Sadly we didn’t saw any mantas, but diving down to the corals where Alan and David was diving to see the animals down there was awesome. Even that Alan and David went there already few times at night and high waves made it feeling safely. I really enjoyed this night snorkelling and had to say Dankeschön again to Alan and David for offering this opportunity to me. After drinking all that sea water and this energy consuming activity we finally stopped at an L&L Hawaiian BBQ, where we got our deserved dinner…(2014/12/13-14)