A few things from the rainy side of the island

We stayed on the Kona side of Hawaii, which is famous for its sunny beaches and reliably good weather.  The other side is much rainier, so not as predictably pleasant for outdoor activity.  But all that rain makes for a beautiful, green, lush, rainforest-ey look.  We went over that way three different times during our trip - once to go to South Point and Hilo, once to go see the lava flow, and once to take a tour of the various gorgeous waterfalls.  Here are some pictures from those three trips to the Hilo side.

Bamboo along a trail leading to Hakuna and Akaka Falls

A fleet of the cutest kids posing by the bamboo

Rainforest with Akaka Falls visible in the background.  So pretty!

Akaka Falls

We came across a very nice man with very extensive camera gear, photographing this nifty tree.  He offered to take a group photo of us, and we just had to say, "Yes, please!"  There aren't all that many pictures of all of us together, since someone usually had to be behind the camera.

Lily and Astrid looking over some flowers that Lily collected from the ground in Bill & Donna's yard in Hilo.  Donna told us that this flower is called an African tulip.  It also comes in bright yellow.  Very pretty!

Oh, how we love the smoothie shop, "What's Shakin' "!!  They make insanely delicious all-fruit (no sugar, no dairy, no anything - except fruit!!) smoothies, and they grow the majority of their fruit right there on the farm behind the shop.  Gregory is standing under a banana tree, pointing up to show you where the bananas are growing.  There were also pineapples, papayas, oranges, and limes growing where we could see them. 

Three sweet little Mearsies at the boiling pots and Pe'e Pe'e Falls.  We had never before seen these sights in sunshine, as it's very often cloudy, rainy, and/or foggy on the Hilo side. 

A kid-less view of the boiling pots.  They're called that because there are various rocky basins along the river bed, and the water in them flows in such a way that they look like they're boiling.

Bill & Donna have two terribly sweet and friendly little pugs, and the kids enjoyed playing with them so much during our quick stopover at Bill & Donna's house.

I can't get enough of giggling at this sign.  You know it's supposed to be Pe'e Pe'e Falls, but apparently the sign maker didn't have apostrophes. 



Look at those sweet kids in the lovely yard in front of Rainbow Falls. 



The trees near Rainbow Falls were just astonishing.  They were all joined together by branches that seemed to belong to either, neither, or both of the trees they touched.  It was like a forest made up of one big tree or ... system of trees... or something.

I love the way these trees arch over the clearing.

Rainbow Falls.  Isn't it pretty??