Hawaii - Day 4

Well today is our last day in Hawaii. We decided that we wanted to "lap" the island and see the Hilo side of it. Hawaii was nothing like I thought it would be. Each part of the island really is different. We started by going up north to Waimea. The scenery was so amazing. It reminded me of rolling hills you would find in Europe....so beautiful and looked so peaceful, didn't have the fast past life that we live in Arizona.It started raining as we headed towards the rain forest/Hilo. We stopped at Akaka Falls. WOW.....there is something about being in a rain forest. I felt a little out of place because it was pouring down rain, we had no umbrellas, I was in a dress with sandals. We looked like a bunch of wet sewer rats! But seeing it was so worth it...plus some fun memories!Back in the car and off to Rainbow Falls. It had quit raining by now (3 hours of straight rain)! We got out to stretch our legs. Oh to have property in Hawaii for relaxation.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was unforgettable. To see an active volcano was something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. WOW!!! The steam vents, lava tubes, to touch and walk on lava....see the active spout. It was cold and raining off and on so we were kinda party poopers on this! After all, our clothes still weren't dry!One of the last stops was to see the BLACK SAND BEACH! It was really pure black sand!We grabbed a quick bite for dinner and had a little time left so we drove to the Kona Temple to see it at night. It is a smaller temple but still so beautiful. The temple was in the middle of a neighborhood, off the freeway and next to a stake center. Once you got on the temple grounds, it was so peaceful!
Back to the airport! We took the red eye flight home! This airport was so different. It was all outdoors! But with the weather they have there, who needs an indoor airport.