Aloha! Random Friday---Hawaiian style! (now with pictures)

We found this little guy hanging on to the back of the car. He stuck around with us while we drove around the island for about 2 hours.

*updated 3/16---I added some pictures....more later...*

Aloha everybody!

I'm waiting for my hubby to get out of meetings. I have 20 minutes, so I thought I'd drop a line and say Hello!
I can't believe it's Friday already. (It is Friday, right? I've kind of lost track of my days here)

I'm also all whacked out because of the time change. It's a 4 hour difference from here to Utah. So, while it's only 11:40 right now, it's about 3:40 at home. I'm sure it'll finally sink in and I'll get used to it by the time I get home.

Here are a few highlights of my trip so far:

• Arrived, Sunday afternoon, at the Kona airport to this:
  
  
  Yep. Rain. But, don't worry, it cleared up, and has been just beautiful the rest of the week.
  


• I saw a rainbow. Hawaii is famous for their rainbows. When we were on Maui a few years ago, I saw a triple rainbow. This one was just a single one. Yet, not disappointing.




• Got lost on the way to the hotel, because C's GPS apparently doesn't know it's way around Hawaii.
  


• Saw A LOT of lava rock. Tripped and cut my toe, while trying to climb around on the lava rocks in my flip-flops.





• Saw a really cool giant old tree, and tried to climb it in my flip-flops.





I now know that this is called a Kohala tree





• Drove around the island (this is the big island of Hawaii, by the way). It took us a total of about 7 hours, including stops.



• Saw the volcano, which has been continuously erupting for about 20 years. Didn't see any lava, though. But, discovered there is such a thing as "vog." It's like fog/smog/volcanic smoke. And it stinks, like something burning. Probably lava.

Steam vents from the volcano

Vog





Hiking through the rainforest. Sorry, it's blurry.Lava Cave


Went to the beach, tried to snorkel, but the rental place was out of snorkel gear. So, swam around instead. Saw some giant turtles from a distance but didn't get any pictures.


• This is the ONLY swimsuit shot you will see of me. Sorry.
  
  Have eaten so much, that I have grown out of all the clothes I've brought, and had to go buy myself a Hawaiian mu mu to wear everyday. Either that, or I've suddenly become 5 months pregnant over night. I'm pretty sure, it's the former. Unfortunately, do not have a picture of the mu mu.
  
  
• Learned how to make sushi.
  
  
  
• Thought the sushi roll looks like a giant stogie, and decided to try and smoke it.
  
  
  
  
• Have been on the lookout for a Hawaiian flask. (I still need to elaborate on that story)
  
• Took lots and lots of pictures of the gorgeous views from our Hotel.






More pictures to come......