Hilo Hattie

Dec 14th-Another night at sea & now we're docked in Hilo, the wet side of the Big Island. We've purchased the newly weds an airplane ride over the Island & mainly the lava flows where we are located. But first, breakie on the Aloha deck & some custom omelets & all the trimmings. Nice view of the harbor & some big outriggers anchored & did I say we slept in 'till 8:00! Seems like the coffee machines are always broke, but just move to another. There's a little rain around ,so we hope it lifts for the plane ride. Down to the dock & get a taxi for the airport, where it looks good for the flight..it's neat little 6 seater plane..maybe I should go too! I walk up with them to Iolani Air & get some pics before we go off to downtown Hilo & the farmer's Market, which is much smaller than in '04 when we were here. We do purchase some lovely flower arrangements for our rooms on the ship-$5, and they are beautiful! Felesa gets a call from the kids & they are done with the ride & Ashley got a little sick, so they are back at the ship. We find a little Thai place that has Corona's for 1.75, so we "rest" for a while. Back to the ship via a taxi & have lunch relaxing around the pool at the Key West Bar-burgers, dogs, slaw, fries. Geoff & Felesa go over and ride the gyro, just before lunch & actually live thru it. Some more relaxin' and back to rooms to get ready to ..what else! eat! Now it's supper on the Aloha deck with prime rib being the special of the eve. As this is happening we leave Hilo harbor & head around the SE/SW coast of the Isle to hopefully get a view of the lave flowing into the ocean. everyone is out on deck & as we approach it, it looks like a city, all lite up on the Pali. As a matter of fact, it was a city before the lava engulfed it years ago. It is quite a sight, but no huge waterfall flows into the sea, but spectacular. It has been flowing and erupting since 1984 & we have actually walked in the flows in the past! I am down on deck 12 watching the rest on deck 13 & go even higher, but as they do, Geoff slips & cuts his elbow & it requires 4 stitches & he even passes out on the table while they sew him up, but he does see the lava.The rest of us go into the Lana'i Lounge for some 3.95 Mai Tai's before heading to bed at 10:30. Maybe the ship will rock us to sleep as we travel to the dry side of the Island, Kona..see ya in the bay!