It really IS a Big Island

It really IS a Big Island was Originally Posted on May 30, 2004 by lavarock

I had an opportunity to drive along part of Hawaii today (the island, not the state). Yesterday I took the drive from Captain Cook through Kailua-Kona and up the mountain to Waikoloa. Waikaloa is somewhat elevated, but compared to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa’s peaks, it is “sea level”.

As I left Waikoloa today I took the upper route back home. For over an hour I drove the windy road south with Mauna Kea on my left and the Pacific on my rigth. Mauna Kea was still far away and another 13,000 feet up while the Pacific was less than 2,000 feet below me.

I am still in awe of the size of the island. At sea level it is 90 miles by 90 miles and rises to 14,000 feet just 45 miles from the ocean. As you begin to understand the amount of lava it took to create those mountains, someone mentiones that the mountains of lava continue another 14,000 feet below sea level and the island suddenly gets progressively larger!

Along this route you see a lot of the island and can enjoy the solitude. There are few cars along this route, but should you break diwn, someone will come along soon enough.

What you notice is the massive amounts of rough lava rocks and the golden grasses growing out of it. The contrast is amazing. Also, you notice the mist. Actually, you are driving through clouds some of the time. Further above me the clouds are quite think, and up at the 14,000 foot level there might me snow (although not today as I checked). Had there been snow, I might have ventured up to the summit to see it.

Also evident along this route are handmade lavarock walls, a foot or two thick at the top and well constructed, although I don’t know when or by whom. Lava rocks are certainly in abundance here Along one side of the wall you might notice a newer, metal, barbwire fence.

As you drive further south you begin to notice coffee farms and estates. After being near coffee for a while now, I think I can identify the smell of freshly pulped coffee cherry and occasionally, you pass a location where they have begun roasting coffee beans!

Soon the road dropped closer to sea level and I was back in my home turf. A quick stop by the post office and the store and I was back at the farm, ready to do more work on the online store.