We arrived on the Big Island yesterday and are staying in Kona which is known for a much more dry climate than Hilo on the west side. When landing you would think you have arrived on Mars due to it's unusual terrain.
Today we headed across the island to check out the volcanoes. We took a "doors off" helicopter ride over the volcanoes. It was amazing to fly right over the crater and view the bubbling lava. The lava is not flowing into the ocean now and hasn't for the past 6 months. We saw the burning forests as a result of the lava.
We then took the crater drive around Kilauea volcano to check out the steam vents and were able to walk through a lava tube.
It was a very interesting and exciting day, but it's a much bigger island than Kauai or Oahu so the travel time is greater. The Big Island is a very interesting island with landscape like no where else we have been with the lava destruction. The last eruption was as recent as 1983 so quite recent destruction is evident.
One surprising fact about the Big Island is the beauty contrasting the lava destruction. The flowers are absolutely beautiful here!!