Last Fall's Colors

Last fall the colors of the mid-Atlantic were definitely missed. The changing of the leaves to red, yellow and orange, and the crisp, cool air of Maryland and Virginia seemed so far away. So we took a trip down to the southern part of the Big Island. There is a neighborhood down there called Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. It's actually a pretty sketchy place. I mean, there are some nice houses and it's one of the last affordable places on the island, but there are a lot of dilapitated structures that barely pass for houses and some seedy characters living there. Some property has tarps rigged to provide shelter and junk all over the yard. I kind of felt more worried there than in bad parts of Washington, D.C. But at the top of H.O.V.E. there was a cabin to rent on someone's property. It was fenced and took dogs, plus we saw photos online, so we went. The cabin was immaculate, well-decorated with wood and tile, had a wood burning stove and full kitchen and bathroom, all for like $90. Malley and Sam came along. The cabin was at about 4,000 feet in elevation, so the temps were cool, just like fall. The landscape up there is full of lava rock with scraggly trees growing out of it. The area is on the side of Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth, and lava had flowed through about 150 year ago. So anyway, we had the fall weather and a spooky element from the neighborhood and scenery, which was very appropriate since it was Halloween. Since we couldn't hike in the Appalachains, we drove to the top of H.O.V.E. and hiked into a section of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here some trails cross moon-like topography with cinder cones, old lava flows and rocks all colors of the rainbow. Our Big Island-style fall foliage! Some people may think it looks barren or even ugly, but I think the desolation has an eerie, rugged beauty.







This is one of my favorite photos of Malley because of the juxtaposition of her black hair with the orange cinder rocks.



And here's the whole gang (minus me). It's perfect that Mr. Always In Motion, aka Samson, is playing the foreground while everyone else poses.



Here's a close up of the ground and the multi-colored rocks. This is only place I have ever seen purple stone.



This is the last house in H.O.V.E. before you enter the National Park. Notice how it's just built with lava flows around it. Not much of a yard if you ask me. This person is also an amateur astronomer — that's what the white thing is...a telescope.