Day 3: lava rock...
Started our day at the Lava Rock Cafe in Volcano Village, where we picked up fresh fish sandwiches for our hike around and through Kilauea. Our hike began with a winding rainforest path which took us down to the caldera floor. We crossed the caldera on the Halema'uma'u trail, following cairns (piles of rocks left by the ancient Hawaiians, uh, I mean U.S. park rangers) and then climbed back up to the rim of the Halea'uma'u crater. After enjoying our lunch at the side of Crater Rim Road, we set off once again. This time on the Crater Rim Trail, where the wind slowed our progress and the sun burned my unprotected ankles. Like mother like daughter. After a mile or two, the barren landscape turned lush and green. We visited Thurston Lava Tube and then intended to follow the Crater Rim Trail back to our starting point. Somehow, we got on the wrong path and ended up crossing the floor of Kilauea Iki crater, once again all barren and scary. We expected the rock monsters from Star Trek to pop out at any moment. Eventually, though, we made it back to our car and rewarded ourselves with a fine pizza dinner at the Kiawe Kitchen in Volcano Village. In all, we walked about 10 miles today.
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