Dec 9: More lava and the drive back to Kona

On Dec. 9 we went to see the Lava Tube, a linear cave formed by molten lava flowing through a solidifying lava flow.  We'd been there once before but the lights were out (a consequence of the horrible weather we'd had for the early days of the trip), but they were back on now so we went over to see what it was like when you could actually see it.

The forested trail heading back over the cave:

We drove up the Mauna Loa scenic road next, which had a few interesting lava features.  Below is a hole formed when a lava flow surrounds a tree trunk, and then the tree catches fire from the heat and burns out from the solidifying lava, and leaves a hole where the trunk had been.  This one has a new tree root heading downwards:

Further up the mountain we came across some red lava rock:

We then headed back to Kona.  Here are some photos of the southern coast of Big Island:

Photo from our hotel once we got in for the evening.

Tomorrow we will be off to Kauai, island #3 on our itinerary.