The light and warmth of the sun began to fade but enjoying the heat of the natural pool kept us warm. We stayed in the pool and listened to the waves crash up right outside of the pool.

This is a view of the lava pouring down to the ocean out of Pu’u O’o. This was taken from a helicopter with no doors so that I could get the best shot. Notice the shadow of the helicopter on the black lava rock.

This is at the scence of the action; where new earth is being created. From the helicopter you can feel the heat of the lava as you watch it erupt from the crust.

Along the Kona coast of the Big Island you will come across Puuhonua o Honaunau, or city of refuge. In this park you will find minimal tourist and a wealth of interesting tiki’s. On the beach here it is common to see sea turtles on the beach. Nearby the park is a great place for snorkeling that offers great visability.

Napua and I traveled to where the road ended and lava rock began. In the distance was the lava pouring down towards the ocean, illuminating the night sky with a fire-red glow.

Off the side of the highway on the eastern coast of the Big Island lies Akaka falls. A small hike around the falls gives a tour through lush plant life and breath taking views.

Near Rainbow falls just outside of Hilo is a beautiful park that offers a small cliff jump opportunity to those craving some freefall.

I shot this photograph in Hilo at Rainbow Falls. This park is located just outside of the city but still gives a tropical jungle feel.

Driving through the center of the island allows you to see the countryside and see a different part of the island you wouldn’t normally expect.

At Volcanoes National Park you will find a path that takes you a mile off the beaten path to observe some ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs that tell a story of the past.

This was my last night in Hawaii and I spent it on the northern Kona coast. This is where I camped out for the night and watch the sunset on the ocean one last time. Sunsets on the west coast of the island are warm and unforgetable.

Sitting in an outside patio for breakfast, I got to enjoy the company of a gecko while I ate.

On the dry side of the island just north of Kona is a field of black lave rocks that locals come to make the contrast using white rocks to display messages.

This was the family that became my own during my trip. We shared stories and created a long lasting relationship. They were excited to show me their neighborhood and tell me about the ancient Hawaiian myths of the island.

I made it through the night. The locals told me all about the ancient myths and history of the valley but I decided to venture my way into the valley alone. I set up camp just before sunset then wached the full moon illuminate the night sky. I was nervous but stayed all night and tried to send out peaceful vibes to the spirits. I wil never forget that night, especially since when I woke up my tent door was opened and I know it was closed when I fell asleep. I was visited thoughout the night.

I really felt like I got in touch with nature at this point. haha I bashed a coconut against a rock until I got to the milk. Sitting in the jungle by myself, I felt like tarzan!

I picked Napua up at the airport and we started our roadtrip around the island. Napua and I traveled together through Europe the summer before and were ready to create more travel stories.