"If you don't know where you're going, any bus will do"

Volcano, Hawaii. Mari, Melissa, Matthew and I got away for our New Years Celebration for a change. We had a great time exploring Volcano National Park, especially Thurston Lava Tubes as well as driving out to Kalapana to watch the lava as it flowed into the ocean!

	A view of Mauna Kea from the road to Akaka Falls		Melissa and Matthew can't agree which way to go first!
	The keiki and me at the trailhead for Akaka and Kahuna Falls		Melissa and Matthew by Kahuna Falls
	A view of Akaka Falls through the trees		A stand of bamboo growing along the path at Akaka Falls
	Melissa and Matthew enjoying the view of Akaka Falls		Akaka Falls
	Mari and me by Rainbow Falls		Mari and the keiki at Rainbow Falls
	Rainbow Falls, near Hilo, Hawaii		Me enjoying the cool shade under the banyon trees at Rainbow Falls
	The falls at Boiling Pots, upstream from Rainbow Falls		The swirling pools at Boiling Pots
	Wider angle view of the falls at Boiling Pots		The falls at Boiling Pots with Mauna Kea in the background
	A swirling pool at Boiling Pots		More of the swirling pools at Boiling Pots
	Another view of Boiling Pots		A couple of Nene enjoying some "grindz" near the Kilauea Caldera Overlook
	Melissa and Matthew at the lookout above Halema'uma'u Caldera, Kilauea Volcano		A family photog on a cool evening by the caldera
	Melissa and Matthew at the entrance to Thurston Lava Tubes		Matthew and Melissa at the bottom of The Thurston Lava Tube (approximately 1000 meters from the entrance)
	Honu (green sea turtles) sunning themselves at Punalu'u (Black Sand Beach)		Matthew and Melissa admire the gentle honu sunbathing on the black sand
	This big guy didn't seemed bothered by all the attention		The big guy doesn't look like he's built for speed, but moves much more gracefully in the water than on the beach
	"Let's play chicken and run straight at each other"		A mug shot of the "big guy" honu
	A profile of another honu on the beach at Punalu'u		A closeup of "another honu"
	The display along the trail of the Ka'u Desert trail where footprints are visible in the solid volcanic ash from ancient Hawaii		The desolute wasteland ofthe Ka'u desert extends another 8 miles to sea
	The footprints forever locked in the volcanic ash		Matthew and Melissa stop for a moment before hiking out across the lava to the Pu'u Loa petroglyphs
	Petroglyphs in the Pahoe'hoe		More petroglyphs
	More petroglyphs		The plume of steam rising from the southern flow of lava into the ocean. This flow is several miles up the coast from the end of Chain of Craters road.
	More petroglyphs		More petroglyphs
	More petroglyphs		More petroglyphs
	A 1/2 scale replica of an ancient Hawaiian temple at Pu'uhonua O Ho'naunau (Place of Refuge)		Melissa and Matthew play an ancient hawaiian game while a young visitor wonders when he will get to play
	A Ki'i at Place of Refuge		Even the honu find solace at Place of Refuge
	Another view of the temple replica		The temple stands alone surrounded by the ocean and watchful ki'i
	Another ki'i guards the lagoon at Place of Refuge		A smaller ki'i stands guard close to the temple
	A couple of ki'i watching over the lagoon		A lone ki'i across the lagoon from the temple and more ki'i
	The lagoon where the royal canoes of the ali'i landed		The ki'i can be VERY intimidating!
	This ki'i stands a solemn watch		Ki'i are everywhere!
	A large honu pops his head above the water for a quick breath before submerging for more dinner among the rocks		Melissa, Matthew, and me posing with two of the ki'i watching the lagoon
	The family photog with a little ki'i		Angry faces on the ki'i are intended to intimidate
	Several tall ki'i near another temple		Another view of the tallest ki'i
	Another tall ki'i		A ki'i stands guard in front of a sacred temple
	A view of the temple from the ocean		The waves crashing on the reef are subdued by the shelf of lava
	Melissa leans against the 19' thick stone wall - I hope she doesn't knock it down!		These walls were built without mortar or stonecutters
	Another view back to the temple from across the pahoe'hoe		A canoe that is being built using the ancient techniques and tools
	Melissa and Matthew beside the canoe - ready to paddle away!		A peaceful fish pond at Place of Refuge
	A view of the palms that sway in the gentle breeze around Place of Refuge		Another canoe ready to go to sea
	A bunch of coconuts almost ready to drop		The entrance to Pu'uhonua O Ho'naunau (Place of Refuge)
	We spent New Years Eve at Kalapana to watch the lava flowing into the ocean		The expansion of the Big Island of Hawai is constantly being challenged by the crashing of the waves
	Matthew and Melissa excited to see the lava from just a few hundred yards away!		More of expansion of the Big Island of Hawaii
	More of the expansion of the Big Island of Hawaii		More of expansion of the Big Island of Hawaii
	More of the expansion of the Big Island of Hawaii		More of expansion of the Big Island of Hawaii