For the Love of Africa: January 2013

I went to visit a my friend Tutu and her husband Jerome on the big island of Hawaii a few weeks ago. I had never met Jerome before but he might just be the nicest person I've met. From the very first day that I arrived in Hilo he was extremely accommodating and friendly, even telling me that I could use his boogie board whenever I would like.

And then there was Tutu who met me at the tiny Hilo International Airport with a Hawaiian Lei. I met Tutu while going to school at Utah Valley University and we became fast friends. Tutu grew up on an island called Kiribati and was constantly getting asked where she was from. Even though she is married and lives in Hawaii, we try to keep in touch.

Alright, alright back to my trip.

I arrived at the Hilo International Airport on January 8 at 8:57 pm which is midnight in Utah. I was exhausted and ready to go to bed. Tutu and Jerome had picked up some Chinese food for me because they knew I had been traveling all day and would probably be hungry (thoughtful thing number 1, but whose counting?). We got to their apartment which was not far from the airport, I ate some food, changed into pajamas and helped Tutu turn the futon into a bed. I fell asleep to the sound of the ocean right outside.

I woke up to a beautiful view of the ocean, ate a banana on the balcony and went for a walk.

The view from Tutu and Jeromes' balcony

Jerome had told me how to get to the beach the night before so I thought I would go hang out there.

After a while I started to get hungry so I headed back and out of nowhere came the rain. By the time I got back my jacket was soaking wet and my shorts were stuck to my legs.

On Thursday January 10, Tutu and I were going to go to the zoo and the Mauna Loa chocolate factory. We were all ready and in the car about to drive off when I decided we should go snorkeling instead. It was a really sunny day and with it being the rainy season I didn't know if there would be another good day for snorkeling.

Yellow Tang like the one I saw

I eventually got a little cold and decided to get out. I had scratches all over my legs! I had some pretty good ones that might even turn into a scar.

The next morning (Friday) I went to find some sea shells and came across several sea turtles. When I got back to the house we went to Akaka Falls and then the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

This waterfall is 448 ft.! Twice the height of Niagara Falls

Akaka Falls

Me, Jerome and Bella (in the blue jacket)

Saturday Tutu and I went on a helicopter tour. It was amazing and I would definitely do it again.

The trees really do look like broccoli

Lava!

Where the Lava meets the Pacific Ocean

Tutu and I went to church on Sunday and then to a Farmer's market. On Monday, we all got to go swimming with dolphins! We woke up at 5AM to make the two hour drive to Kona on the other side of the island. We checked in at the Marina and got on a boat in search of wild dolphins. We also saw several humpback whales who were on a heat run (basically three males going after one female), a manta ray and a sea turtle. Guess I get to check that off my list twice :)

Me and Tutu ready to see some dolphins

The next day I got to the beach early enough that I had it all to myself for awhile. I nearly walked straight into a sea turtle again, this time they were just hanging out in the water.

My last day, we toured around and got to see more of the island. Tutu woke up early with me and we collected some sea shells, then spent the rest of the day touring around at different beach parks, ending with Rainbow Falls. Tutu made some amazing salmon and pasta for dinner. I finished packing my bag, got all of Tutu's pictures and headed to the airport for my red eye flight to Los Angeles.