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Kilauea Iki Hike

Hawaii is the biggest island. We could have hiked endless miles for endless days. My guidebook recommended that the one place to hike is the Volcano National Park. The one not-to-be-missed hike at the park that my guidebook recommended was the Kilauea Iki trail. The guidebook stated "This is a great hike!" It was a four-mile, 2-hour hike that we utterly enjoyed. We parked at the Kilauea Iki Overlook and then went clockwise--against the advice of the guidebook which suggested counter-clockwise. Our direction was steeper but more exhilarating and scary. It was scary because it was difficult to find the trail going out of the crater. I don't think Theresa's boss would have liked it if I got Theresa lost in Hawaii :-)

The loop trial is 4-miles long.

The first part of the trail was thru the tropical rain forest, which is near the Thurston Lava Tube.

Fern were everywhere. Very cool and comfortable.

We made our way down to the crater floor.

We were at the south-east part of the crater floor.

The brilliant red blossom contrasted against the black lava. This is a lehua blossom on an 'Ohi'a tree.

Theresa was happy to have a pair of hiking poles.

The crater was pretty desolate. There were only a few hikers in front and behind us. A lone hiker was a good way for us to judge the scale of this vast crater.

There were numerous steam vents. I was surprised that there was no rotten-egg smell.

We were both careful not to fall.

A final look at the crater.

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