Swimming away in Hawaii

Couple of more glimpses at Hawaii. My underwater camera alone has 411 shots in it so I have so many more to process when I get back (to Lightoom).

This particular gem is at near Kona at a freshwater/saltwater pool. Not entirely easy to get to: you have to hike about 20 minutes from the road to get to the beach partially along the sand. But then once you get there, few people. Most folk there were sunbathing and playing around at the start of the pool so the far side with the sea turtles was empty. They are resting so it is important not to get to close, but if they swim up to you then its great. :)

And the lava fields that form this pools' sides are from 1859. Just for reference of how young Hawaii is.



Next exhibit is from snorkeling around Captain Cook Monument. The monument that was placed where he 'fell'. Aka in most accounts... eaten.

The trip there involves a 20 minute kayak paddle. We were planning on leaving at 8am and had arranged with a rental company to drop off a kayak... but by 8:30am they never showed and were not picking up their phone. Fairly pissed off we drove up to a very nice different company, picked up and drove down a kayak from them. Very annoying (and I am writing a simply splendid review for the first place) but in the end... kayaking!

The reefs near the monument are amazing. Full of live coral and all sorts of fishes. :) Also great to not have many people there as you have to get there by boat, and you need a permit to get ashore (which we had).

Tomorrow is the last day in Hawaii - looking forward to exploring the south side of the big island that I have not visited yet. :) Then a red-eye flight back to mainland America.