Started our day with breakfast at the trough. Found table outside at the stern of the ship. We all ate our fill. Nan packed a PB&J sandwich and a banana for Connor to take with him.

Our bus tour was to Haleakala Volcano. During the ride from sea level to almost 10000 feet the driver told us about the plants and animals in the area, and that new species are being brought in regularly on boats and airplanes. This is a real problem.

Haleakala last erupted about 1790. We're glad it didn't pick today to have the next one. At the top the landscape is nearly bare and has a reddish color. Just below the summit plant life has started to emerge. One of the first is called a silver sword.

After coming back down, we walked to town, but found nothing we needed. Headed back to the ship for lunch and a trip to the pool, Connor spent 2 hours jumping in and out.

At dinner we asked to be seated with another party if possible. They sat us with a single Mexican gentleman in his late 60s who turned out to be a Federal judge from CA. His parents went to the 4th grade, but Ernie and his 12 siblings all became successful. One became a doctor. Another owned a market. Ernie was trained as an engineer, but after 4 years in the US Air Force as a weapons officer, he went to law school. I tried to get him to talk about why his family succeeded, while others did not. He was not willing to open up about it. He is divorced & seems lonely. We gave him advice on meeting women.

Tomorrow we go to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.