You meet the nicest people IV...

Jenny, John and Ana (John Jr. was too embarrassed to be seen with me) are also visiting the Big Island.

I've known Jenny when her last name was Brannan. I watched her grow up since the age of 8. Here she is with two kids and a great husband. I was present at their wedding too.

Does this mean I am getting older too?

Fun visit, wonderful people. 

I board my flight back to Phoenix and Barley the Van tonight at midnight.

OY!

Goodbye to HI...

"Relax" is the slogan often seen on Tommy Bahamas products.

 I've been on Hawaii for 10 weeks, I'm ready to move onto another slogan. Hell, I'll even try Nike's lame, "Just do it!" motto. I'm weary of sitting. I'm failing at being a Beach Bum. 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-beach-chair-blues.html

I'm not a water based mammal. I'm terrestrial. I have a college degree in forestry, not oceanography. 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/02/sightings-of-loch-ness-monster-are.html

I've run out of things to do. Before you scoff and think, "how can anyone grow tired of Paradise?" Hear me out.

Hawaii's land mass is 4.1 million acres. Public lands make up 43%. Sound good so far,  right?  However, stats can be conceiving. 

The Feds own about 9%. Most of these acres lie in the two Volcanic National Parks. That's cool, but limited amount of hiking. Our Mighty Military controls the remaining acres which they have exclusive rights to. It's not a good idea to pick wild flowers on their installations. 

The rest of the public land is owned by the state of Hawaii. The Aloha State Government does an admirable job with its oceanside properties. Makes sense, since most of the locals and tourists love to frolic in the salt water of the islands.

Unfortunately, the Hawaiian State Parks system seems to manage with a laissez faire approach to its anterior land holdings. It's a free for all in there. 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2014/12/occupy-na-pali.html

Where there is fresh water, more than likely you will find squatters. 

The majority of the islands land mass is privately owned. Land ownership is a highly charged, complicated and contentious issue among the native Hawaiians. (Isn't it always with indigenous people?) Suffice it to say, the locals got screwed by the Haoles (white folks). 

You can't flip an apple core without striking a "No Trespassing, Private Property" or the Hawaiians version "Kapu" sign in these parts.

So...Jeffy what's your point?

I've stayed a week too long on small islands.

I would have to sprout gills, fins and scales to find more to do here. (All the requirements of a Kosher fish)

I'm used to places like the Weiminuche Wilderness in Colorado for my wandering ways. I need my space! 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-weminuche-wilderness.html

Next winter, I'm thinking Central or South America or both for my getaway. I'm open to ideas and suggestions. Jeffsambur@gmail.com

Would I return to the Aloha State? Heck yeah! Maybe (God Willing) as a couple so I'll fit in more. 

This sure beats winter.

Next stop! Our Mainland's Southwestern National Parks. Ahh! 

Does anyone know a cure for tendinitis of the butt? I've developed a bad case from all this sitting. 

See the last photo? I wasn't making this VOG stuff up! 

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/01/caught-up-in-vog-of.html

A Long Day to (Cough! Cough!)...

Volcanoes  National Park 

The nice Ranger assured me there's nothing wrong with breathing the air in the park.

"Today, the sulfur dioxide isn't too bad. Besides it's the particulate matter that's the real problem. It's kind of like gasified glass."

Hmmm. Nothing like inhaling a ground up beer bottle while hiking.

The 7.5 mile trail is between two venting  volcanoes. The Big Island is a volcanologist wet dream. 

The landscape is featureless. The color varies from charcoal black to asphalt black. It's the Goth look living large. 

Finding your way through this geologic maelstrom would be nearly impossible if not for the cairns acting as beacons through the chaos.

As you can see from the photos the lava flows destroys rain forests and public work projects with equal impunity. 

I've had my fill of Volcanoes National Park. I prefer my volcanoes to be like Mount Saint Helens. There you can find Mother Nature working overtime. A lot less bleak. I like that. 

Should I be worried about the blood in my sputum? 

Good Night from Cough! Cough! Kona,

Jeff