This morning we got our first look at land since Sunday afternoon. We arrived early in Hilo with overcast skies and about 70. We had a full day of touring and no time for shopping. Well, I did manage to get a little in. Hilo was large and looked to be a good place to spend some time.
We took the Circle of Fire tour of Volcanoes National Park. The skies cleared as we the left the ship and remained sunny the remainder of the day. We got great photos of Mauna Loa from a distance and we circle the Kilauea caldera in the tour bus. On the way back to the ship, we stopped at the Mauna Load Macadamia Nut Farm and Visitor’s Center. I got some great cookies and plenty of nuts for gifts.
Tonight we had a chocolate buffet on the pool deck as we passed the lava flow from Kilauea as it reached the sea. The lava was less than spectacular. The chocolate was great. Even greater was me winning $40 at the blackjack table.