{"id":6966,"date":"2020-01-20T12:41:18","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T12:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/?p=6966"},"modified":"2022-04-11T16:38:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T15:38:37","slug":"hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai&#8217;i"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As if presenting at the 2020 Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop in Hawai&#8217;i wasn&#8217;t exciting enough, Becs then had the thrill of me joining her for a bit of holiday time afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some obvious stereotypes which come to mind when thinking of Hawai&#8217;i, including bright sunshine and golden beaches. What awaited us at our first stop, Hilo, was a little different&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rain in Hilo - Jan 2020\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/385814386?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawai&#8217;i actually features eight out of the 13 global climate zones. This includes classifications such as &#8220;<em>continuously wet<\/em>&#8220;! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1179\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-001-OTYP5585.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-001-OTYP5585.jpg 1179w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-001-OTYP5585-800x577.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1179px) 100vw, 1179px\" \/><figcaption>Big Island of Hawai&#8217;i &#8211; Climate Zones. We stayed in Hilo, then moved to Kailua-Kona.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nevertheless we continued with our plans, the first being to aim for the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano and the tallest mountain on earth <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"from base to peak (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/oceanservice.noaa.gov\/facts\/highestpoint.html\" target=\"_blank\">from base to peak<\/a>, at over 10,200 m. A hefty 4,207 m of that protrudes above sea level, meaning that if you want to drive from sea level to any of the 13 astronomical observatories at the summit then the recommendation is to stop for an hour at the visitor centre for some mini-acclimatisation! Unfortunately on the day we visited, the road above the visitor centre (2,800 m) was closed due to snow and ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1750\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090.jpg 1750w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090-1536x746.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090-800x389.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090-1200x583.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-007-WMIR8090-1400x680.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1750px) 100vw, 1750px\" \/><figcaption>Road to Mauna Kea summit &#8211; closed!<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We had anticipated this, since the summit weather station read -5 \u00baC and the weather forecast had said &#8220;<em>extensive fog, ice and snow flurries are likely to plague the summit through the next 5 nights<\/em>&#8220;. What we hadn&#8217;t anticipated was the warning at the visitor centre regarding invisible cows&#8230; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1892\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220.jpg 1892w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220-1536x690.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220-800x359.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220-1200x539.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-008-IMG_E0220-1400x629.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1892px) 100vw, 1892px\" \/><figcaption>\u00a9&nbsp;Haydn Wiliams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Having safety avoided the invisible cows (I guess we&#8217;ll never know just how close we came to hitting one), we tried our luck on the next-door volcano, Mauna Loa. At 4,169 m it&#8217;s another big-hitter, although its road doesn&#8217;t go quite to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1355\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-012-IMG_0232.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-012-IMG_0232.jpg 1355w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-012-IMG_0232-800x502.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-012-IMG_0232-1200x753.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1355px) 100vw, 1355px\" \/><figcaption>Mauna Loa Observatory Road.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After ploughing through ten monotonous miles of lava field (\u02bba\u02bb\u0101 is the horrible spiky stuff; p\u0101hoehoe is the smoother type) with no views, we called it a day and headed home, on the grounds that zero visibility at 4,100 m was fundamentally very similar to zero visibility at sea level!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following day had an exciting-sounding destination &#8211; Volcanoes National Park! Our travel guide book had described the possibility of looking down into a molten lava lake, and seeing molten lava flowing into the sea in a maelstrom of elemental forces! But&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-040-20200110_144858-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7012\"\/><figcaption>Doh!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, we were actually prepared for this because after getting very excited reading the <strong>2017<\/strong> guidebook, I&#8217;d subsequently discovered about the huge <strong>2018<\/strong> eruption which had destroyed half of the sights and then effectively shut down volcanic activity in the park. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of bits to see, like the 1969 fissure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1319\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-014-_1100172.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-014-_1100172.jpg 1319w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-014-_1100172-800x516.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-014-_1100172-1200x773.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1319px) 100vw, 1319px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Rain continued throughout the day, meaning we were accompanied by rainbows at various intervals as we meandered across the lava fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1629\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700.jpg 1629w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700-1536x801.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700-800x417.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700-1200x626.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-024-_I7A1700-1400x731.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1629px) 100vw, 1629px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As you drive towards the coast, it&#8217;s abundantly clear where lava from recent eruptions has flown downhill and over hill crests, obliterating some areas and leaving others untouched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1359\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-020-_1100225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-020-_1100225.jpg 1359w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-020-_1100225-800x500.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-020-_1100225-1200x751.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1359px) 100vw, 1359px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1275\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-025-_I7A1707.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-025-_I7A1707.jpg 1275w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-025-_I7A1707-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-025-_I7A1707-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1275px) 100vw, 1275px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, that&#8217;s included flowing onto the road&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1641\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224.jpg 1641w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224-1536x796.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224-800x414.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224-1200x622.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-027-_1100224-1400x725.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1641px) 100vw, 1641px\" \/><figcaption>(It&#8217;s OK &#8211; this is the old road!)<br>\u00a9 Rebecca Cordell 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;Chain of Craters&#8221; road was built in 1959, and has only been fully open for 13 of the intervening years &#8211; the remainder have seen some part or other closed due to being covered in lava or broken up by eruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heading further towards the sea, the road continues to cut a swathe through vast lava fields right down to the coast line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1570\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200.jpg 1570w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200-1536x832.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200-800x433.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200-1200x650.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-030-_1100200-1400x758.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1570px) 100vw, 1570px\" \/><figcaption>That shiny line is the rain-soaked road cutting through a lava field.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In the midst of those lava fields are the Pu&#8217;u Loa petroglyphs, featuring over 23,000 carved images and symbols. Details about the history of these are frustratingly sparse, but the lava has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/havo\/learn\/historyculture\/puuloa.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"dated to AD 1200-1450 (opens in a new tab)\">dated to AD 1200-1450<\/a> (so pretty ancient, by US standards).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-022-_1100212.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6979\"\/><figcaption>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Back uphill to the main body of the park, and we took a run through the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"K\u012blauea Iki crater (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/havo\/planyourvisit\/hike_day_kilaueaiki.htm\" target=\"_blank\">K\u012blauea Iki crater<\/a>. In 1959, a fissure opened in the crater and filled it with a molten lava to a depth of 120 m. It cooled over the following decades, and it&#8217;s estimated that it finally became completely solidified in the mid-1990s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1192\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-032-_1100230.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-032-_1100230.jpg 1192w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-032-_1100230-800x570.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1192px) 100vw, 1192px\" \/><figcaption>K\u012blauea Iki crater from the rim &#8211; this photo really does not do the scale any justice.<br>\u00a9&nbsp;Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s still hot, though, and in wet weather the rainwater running down into cracks is soon emitted again as steam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1307\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-036-P1100234.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-036-P1100234.jpg 1307w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-036-P1100234-800x520.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-036-P1100234-1200x780.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1307px) 100vw, 1307px\" \/><figcaption>Running inside K\u012blauea Iki crater.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"the Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/409\" target=\"_blank\">the Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site<\/a>, but I&#8217;m less enthusiastic in this post than I usually am about such things because there was no logo for me to have my photo taken with (as regular readers will know is customary). Indeed, there was absolutely no mention of it anywhere in the park! Baffling, but I shall be adding it to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"the list (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/unesco-world-heritage-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\">the list<\/a> anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main event in the park for many years has been the K\u012blauea caldera &#8211; a boiling pool of lava forming the centrepiece of the visitor experience. The 2018 eruption saw the lava disappear, but also dramatically increased the size of the crater &#8211; I&#8217;ll think you&#8217;ll agree it&#8217;s a pretty impressive sight (!):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1749\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334.jpg 1749w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334-1536x746.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334-800x389.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334-1200x583.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-041-20200110_141334-1400x680.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1749px) 100vw, 1749px\" \/><figcaption>Pesky clouds!<br>\u00a9 Rebecca Cordell 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another highlight was Sulphur Banks, which was &#8220;named by visitors&#8221;, presumably of British origin, in the 19th century. I&#8217;m pleased to report that the name remains Sul<strong>ph<\/strong>ur Banks as opposed to Sul<strong>f<\/strong>ur Banks. To chemists reading this: I know Sulfur is the <abbr title=\"International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry\">IUPAC<\/abbr> standard, but I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m guilty of what Nature calls &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"a mistaken sense of spelling jingoism (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nchem.301\" target=\"_blank\"><em>a mistaken sense of spelling jingoism<\/em><\/a>&#8220;!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Falling under the heading of  &#8220;historical interest&#8221; rather than &#8220;jingoism&#8221; comes an interesting observation made whilst driving around, and of which I had previously no knowledge &#8211; the state flag of Hawai&#8217;i incorporates the Union Flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/500px-Flag_of_Hawaii.svg_.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7031\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"long and varied reasoning  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flag_of_Hawaii\" target=\"_blank\">long and varied reasoning <\/a>behind this, but it essentially seems to be rooted in the British empire&#8217;s early contact with the islands (although post-Capt. Cook), followed by US meddling and associated British prickliness. Indeed, the entire history of Hawai&#8217;ian government, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"religion (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hawaiian_religion#History\" target=\"_blank\">religion<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"statehood (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_Hawaii#Kingdom_of_Hawaii\" target=\"_blank\">statehood<\/a>, and the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"involvement of the sugar industry (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sugar_plantations_in_Hawaii\" target=\"_blank\">involvement of the sugar industry<\/a>, makes for very interesting reading (if a little mind-bending in complexity). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On our way home we popped into <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Kaumana lava tubes (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasobscura.com\/places\/kaumana-lava-tubes\" target=\"_blank\">Kaumana lava tubes<\/a>, which weren&#8217;t as big as <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"the ones we saw in Iceland (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/mums-gone-to-iceland\/\" target=\"_blank\">the ones we saw in Iceland<\/a>, but were appealing because of their complete lack of signage\/lighting\/handrails, and the need to crawl through a small hole with a decent torch, thus filtering out a large proportion of the other visitors about 20% of the way in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1261\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-042-IMG_0238.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-042-IMG_0238.jpg 1261w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-042-IMG_0238-800x539.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-042-IMG_0238-1200x809.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1261px) 100vw, 1261px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1369\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-047-_1110264.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-047-_1110264.jpg 1369w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-047-_1110264-800x497.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-047-_1110264-1200x745.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1369px) 100vw, 1369px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"589\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-050-_I7A1723.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6990\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Telly that evening consisted of the usual American dross, but was punctuated by an emergency flood warning due to the excessive levels of rain the island was receiving. As the holiday developed this turned into <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"road closures (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigislandvideonews.com\/2020\/01\/10\/hilo-road-closures-reported-as-rains-continue\/\" target=\"_blank\">road closures<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"over 16&quot; of rain in one weekend (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaiinewsnow.com\/video\/2020\/01\/12\/astounding-rainfall-totals-hawaii-island-along-with-many-mauka-locations\/\" target=\"_blank\">over 16&#8243; of rain in one weekend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1499\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-061-IMG_0256.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-061-IMG_0256.jpg 1499w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-061-IMG_0256-800x454.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-061-IMG_0256-1200x680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-061-IMG_0256-1400x794.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1499px) 100vw, 1499px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At Pu&#8217;uhonua O H\u014dnaunau National Historical Park we saw the huge wall which segregated a small headland on the coastline. Anyone who had broken the law but managed to reach this &#8216;place of refuge&#8217; was absolved by a priest instead of receiving the usual punishment for <em>any<\/em> offence: death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1133\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-055-_1120276.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-055-_1120276.jpg 1133w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-055-_1120276-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1133px) 100vw, 1133px\" \/><figcaption>The Great Wall at Pu&#8217;uhonua O H\u014dnaunau.<br>\u00a9&nbsp;Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately we hadn&#8217;t broken any laws, so were free to go rock-pooling in lava flows, which was good fun. Amongst various other things we spotted an eel and a puffer fish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1133\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-057-_1120282.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-057-_1120282.jpg 1133w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-057-_1120282-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1133px) 100vw, 1133px\" \/><figcaption>Lava-pooling!<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Proceeding down the coast, we drove to Ka Le, or South Point, at the tip of the Big Island &#8211; the southernmost point in the 50 states of the US. (Technically the title of &#8220;most southerly point <em>in the entire US<\/em>&#8221; goes to an incorporated US territory <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"outwith the 50 states (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ka_Lae#Southernmost_point\" target=\"_blank\">outwith the 50 states<\/a>). We then shimmied along the coast a little, for a run out to Papakolea beach, famed for its green sand. Here&#8217;s another typical Hawai&#8217;i blue sky and baked-ground photo for you&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1338\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-064-_1120296.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-064-_1120296.jpg 1338w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-064-_1120296-800x508.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-064-_1120296-1200x762.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1338px) 100vw, 1338px\" \/><figcaption>Most-utilised piece of running gear this trip: waterproof jacket.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The green colouration is the mineral olivine, one of the first to form when lava cools. There are only four green sand beaches in the world, and whilst I wasn&#8217;t quite sure what to expect it&#8217;s actually quite noticeable when you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1193\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-065-_1120298.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-065-_1120298.jpg 1193w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-065-_1120298-800x570.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1193px) 100vw, 1193px\" \/><figcaption>It&#8217;s green! Weird. #geology<br>\u00a9 Haydn Wiliams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A short plane hop then found us on Kauai, the most north-westerly of the main islands, and therefore the oldest (the entire island chain continually moves in a north-westerly direction away from the volcanic hotspot of formation in the south-east).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1630\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945.jpg 1630w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945-1536x801.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945-800x417.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945-1200x626.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-076-QBDX8945-1400x730.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1630px) 100vw, 1630px\" \/><figcaption>Taking pictures at Larsen&#8217;s Beach.<br>\u00a9 Rebecca Cordell 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Kauai is the location of the bit I was most looking forward to &#8211; the Napali Coast. This is a rather spectacular-looking bit of coastline with many valleys eventually becoming steep fluted cliffs that bar any further access. Even getting to that point is a walking-only affair, on the <a href=\"https:\/\/dlnr.hawaii.gov\/dsp\/hiking\/kauai\/kalalau-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Kalalau Trail (opens in a new tab)\">Kalalau Trail<\/a>. Unfortunately&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47-1536x121.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47-2048x162.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47-800x63.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47-1200x95.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-068-Screenshot-2020-01-12-at-19.08.47-1400x111.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So Plan B was the Waimea valley, a huge gorge which I would never have considered as being the kind of geological feature you&#8217;d find in Hawai&#8217;i. Shows what I know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1590\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793.jpg 1590w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793-1536x821.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793-800x428.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793-1200x642.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-084-_I7A1793-1400x748.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1590px) 100vw, 1590px\" \/><figcaption>Waimea Canyon. The colours were amazing, even in flat light.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-089-_I7A1798.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6999\"\/><figcaption>Waipo&#8217;o Falls &#8211; we walked to the top of the falls.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"695\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-095-_1140330.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7001\"\/><figcaption>At the top of the falls.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After a nice walk in the canyon we tried to see the Napali coast from the top end, <em>i.e.<\/em> looking down into the valleys towards the coast. Alas, the cloud gods were against us again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-092-_1140313.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-092-_1140313.jpg 1333w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-092-_1140313-800x510.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-092-_1140313-1200x765.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\" \/><figcaption>Napali coast is somewhere under all that cloud.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We persevered the following day and tried to access the coastal trail again by catching the 07:30 bus and found&#8230; it was still closed due to the latest overnight storms! But, as we walked back along the beach to our hotel, the website suggested it had opened again, so we caught the next bus <em>back<\/em> to the trailhead and finally got started. Woohoo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1176\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-102-_1150347.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-102-_1150347.jpg 1176w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-102-_1150347-800x578.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1176px) 100vw, 1176px\" \/><figcaption>More amenable than the river crossings in Iceland!<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are various restrictions on how far you can go, and innumerable warnings about not doing any of the ten river crossings if it&#8217;s too dangerous, <em>etc<\/em>. Suffice to say everything was fine, but the thick jungle was hard going and hid a lot of the views, particularly in the last two miles to our destination, Hanakapi\u2019ai Falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-103-_1150350.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-103-_1150350.jpg 1064w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-103-_1150350-800x639.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1064px) 100vw, 1064px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately the main path, when rejoined, is easier going and so we managed a little trot back to finish the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, we were into our final evening of the trip, so obviously the weather decided to improve! The photographer in me finally awoke, and we rushed back around to Ha&#8217;ena beach before dinner to catch sunset. There were still some evil-looking clouds out to sea, but things were looking up in other directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1601\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833.jpg 1601w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833-1536x815.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833-800x425.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833-1200x637.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-116-_I7A1833-1400x743.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1601px) 100vw, 1601px\" \/><figcaption>Storm clouds off Tunnels Beach.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-125-_I7A1861.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7005\"\/><figcaption>Sunset over Maniniholo Bay.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After dinner, with the cloud vanquished almost entirely, I saw my first stars of the entire trip and managed to get a couple of shots from the beach before bed. Research had suggested that the galactic centre of the Milky Way would be below the horizon, this meaning that the brightest part wouldn&#8217;t be visible, but I&#8217;m pleased with the results nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1407\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good.jpg 1407w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good-768x1092.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good-1081x1536.jpg 1081w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good-800x1137.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good-1200x1706.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20200108-129-_I7A1886_good-1400x1990.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1407px) 100vw, 1407px\" \/><figcaption>Milky way over Kepuhi Beach.<br>\u00a9&nbsp;Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-131-_I7A1904.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7007\"\/><figcaption>Stars above Wainiha Bay.<br>\u00a9 Haydn Williams 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The following morning was another early start for the airport, but we caught sunrise from the apartment window before setting off. This was the first time I&#8217;d actually seen the sun during the entire trip, and even on the short drive to the airport it was amazing how much it changed the whole character of the island versus monochromatic cloud cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-134-IMG_0284-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7008\" width=\"580\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-134-IMG_0284-Edit.jpg 1239w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-134-IMG_0284-Edit-800x549.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200108-134-IMG_0284-Edit-1200x823.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope this post hasn&#8217;t come across as too much doom-and-gloom about the weather &#8211; we undoubtedly missed a couple of spectacular views at K\u012blauea and Napali, but we saw plenty of other things, and got loads done. We certainly couldn&#8217;t have packed any more in, and it was nice to be free of sunburn paranoia for the duration, too! I think the take-home message from this post is that there are absolutely loads of things to see and do in Hawai&#8217;i, so if you ever get the chance to visit then do your homework in advance. It&#8217;s so much more than just beaches! Also be prepared for the weather too &#8211; our first port of call, Hilo, experiences over 12&#8243; of rain per month for four months of the year, and in July and August has an average of 28 rainy days per month! Variation is huge though &#8211; Kona, on the other side of the same island, has only two months where rainfall tops 3&#8243;. So pack for everything, and you&#8217;ll be fine!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As if presenting at the 2020 Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop in&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7005,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[1376,1373,360,1381],"class_list":["post-6966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-big-island","tag-hawaii","tag-unesco","tag-volcanoes-national-park"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}