First we flew to Molokai,
where we got a quick snack at the airport. Connie had a salted duck egg
with a scoop of rice, which she points out is not available at most
airports, such as, say, O'Hare International. Shortly after leaving we
went by Kalaupapa.
I am told that this crater was the location of human sacrifices long ago
(there is a white cross at the top edge on the right, but you can't make
it out in this picture):
Here is a picture of the cliffs along the north shore of Molokai:
After Molokai we landed on Maui
at Kahului. We were
running a little late, however, so we just took off again for the Big
Island. This picture, north of Kona, attempts to show the variations
in the color of the water:
We landed at the Keahole-Kona
airport and met Connie's friend Bruce, who conveniently was attending
a conference nearby. The last part of the flight, over land, had been bumpy,
so Connie elected to stay at the airport while Bruce and I did a short
sightseeing flight to the south. This picture is of Honomalino Bay, where
some friends of Bruce have a house that is not accessible by road:
This picture is of Kealakekua Bay and the town of Napo'opo'o, where
Bruce's family has a house:
Speaking of which, this gave us an outstanding place to stay overnight.
In exchange, we treated Bruce to dinner at the CanoeHouse
restaurant at the Mauni Lani Resort (possibly the best restaurant on the
island). The next morning (Friday, June 12th) we woke up to see the bay
and the Captain Cook monument
(a tiny white speck in the center of this photograph):
This picture is also at Bruce's family's house (that's Connie sitting
on the wall):
They grow large insects in hot humid climates. This wolf
spider (with my size 10 1/2 shoe for reference) was already dead when
I found it, although we did see a live one in the house (Bruce kindly chased
it away):
After buying a little bit of fuel so that we could make it to our destination
with plenty to spare and still not be too heavy to take off, the three
of us took off from Keahole airport and flew north, back the way Connie
and I had come. This picture shows the section of coast where the Mauna
Lani Resort is located (and where we had had dinner the night before):
We flew to Maui, taking a route around the south side of the island
because the weather forecast made flying on the north side questionable.
We bought a little more fuel in Kahului so that we could make it back to
Honolulu, and waited for a huge Air Force plane (maybe a C-5) to take off.
This picture was shot after taking off again, possibly near Nakalele Point:
Here are three pictures along the gorgeous north coast of Molokai:
Finally returning to Oahu, the small island off of Makapuu
Point is Rabbit
Island (see also this
link):
This is Koko
Crater:
Connie's mother lives near the top of this area, known as the Wilhelmina
Rise:
And here are Bruce, Connie, and me with the plane, back at Eveland Aero:
