We've had quite an adventurous weekend, from trespassing to caving. Friday we explored more of Volcanoes National Park, getting a nice lungful of sulphur at the Halema'uma'u crater, and then exploring the Thurston Lava Tube. At the end of the tube there's a gate into another tube with no lights. We started walking in, and quickly found ourselves in complete blackness. Some returning hikers gave us their flashlight and we continued to the end, about 1/4 mile later.

Saturday we drove up a private road, following the signs to "The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls" we get to this nice inn, big parking lot, and start following the signs to the Falls (see above). It's a giant waterfall, what else can I say? When we hike back up, our car is blocked by a pick-up, and we finally track down someone, and he's quite irate. Apparently we are trespassing and should have asked permission. We are just dumb tourists. That was a little stressful, we are feeling unwanted on this lovely island.

Today was much better. We ate pancakes at the Volcano Village Farmers Market before church. I bought a HUGE fuschia orchid. Nothing like going to church to make you feel welcome.

Afterwards, I headed down to Hilo to swim and grocery shop. The pool is... je ne sais quoi. It is on the road to Air Cargo, right next to the runway. I think it was abandoned for many years and used as a skateboard park. Because Kawamoto Swim Stadium is under repair, they've re-opened this one. There is no paint on the bottom-all dark concrete (like swimming in a rock quarry)-with barely visible lines on the bottom, but no lane separators. The water was blessedly warm and there were lots of fellow lap swimmers. There is, however, grafitti on the bottom of the pool, and it's kind of freaky when the planes take-off and land. But because there are people there in swim caps and goggles, I feel strangely at home.

Above are pictures of our house, the pool and the waterfall.