Friday, March 23, 2018

When Clouds Cry



Hawai'i is such a sunny paradise, right?

Nope.

Well, yes, of course it is. But it is also very humid and that gorgeous vegetation doesn't come out of a dry soil. At least not in those parts that are covered with rain forests, like the Southeastern part of the Big Island. It is stunningly beautiful and it is... wet. Very wet.


This is the Puna District, and it's probably the least well-known part of the Big Island. It does rain a lot here, and I mean a LOT. The skies just open up and the water gushes down. For people who are chasing the sun this is certainly not the place to go. There are no sand beaches here, but the coast is stunning. Wild and rugged. Lava coast, of course. We're right at the foot of the volcano after all.





These four photos above were taken within one hour, and you can see how quickly the weather changes. From grey skies and heavy clouds to some blue gaps and rays of sun and then back to torrential rain.

Highway 137 - a favorite road of mine - winds along the coast, most of the time very close to the sea so that you can hear the ocean roar and sometimes the spray of the waves hits the windshield. My favorite part is driving through those natural tunnels made out of bizarrely crooked trees that bend over the road.



It feels a bit like being in Tolkien's Middle Earth  - I was expecting either some elves or Treebeard to appear among the tree stems.

On the Southeast corner, at Cape Kumukahi, we parked the car and went through the lava moonscape down to the ocean - we started in the sun and ended up in the rain. Of course. Even though there is mostly lava here, new life is fighting its way to the light, dotting the mostly black landscape with its cheerful green color.


By the time we reached the water it had started to rain again and everything was grey, but the ocean was stunning. It never disappoints. Just look at those colors.





Puna District and the volcano are the areas that first come to my mind when I think of Hawai'i. No sand beaches for me (except for black sand, but that is for another post).




*******


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From March 22-29 I'm having a spring sale.
15% everything in the store.








13 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

MAGNIFICENT.
And how I love that you thought of Treebeard in the forest. The ents were one of my favourite Tolkein characters.
It is amazing how life finds away to spring forth in even the most inhospitable looking places isn't it? Some day that black may be transformed to green...

My name is Erika. said...

Wow. I haven't made it to Hawaii yet, but these photos are so gorgeous I think I need to think about going. Hugs-Erika

Anonymous said...

Stunning photographs! I experienced that changeable weather and the torrential rains on my one visit to Hawaii oh-so-many years ago. There was one spot we wanted to visit, a pretty grotto with water cascading into a calm pool, where people often swam and had photos taken. The day we were there it was a churning, roaring waterfall and needless to say, we did not go swimming! Loved seeing it anyway...it was still beautiful.

krishna said...

So gorgeous!! We had been in Maui, and Oahu, but not in Big Island. Many said that, Big Island is the most beautiful one.. it is the pristine beauty ..

La Vie Quotidienne said...

what incredibly lovely photos...they are the most wonderful advertisement for the glories of Hawaii. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Michelle B said...

So Beautiful! And so much green foliage. I guess with all of that green would have to come some rain and cloudy skies. The ocean is gorgeous too. I love the raging waves against the rocks, and the blue water. Thank you for sharing this bit of paradise today, it warms me up on a cold morning.

Magic Love Crow said...

Truly amazing! Wow! Breath taking! It truly looks like some far away fairy land!! I'm in awww! Big Hugs!

Sarah Huizenga said...

It is wonderful to see another side to Hawaii. I would prefer this, even with the rain.

Jeanie said...

Stunning photos as always, Carola. Someone once told me that it rains every day in Hawaii -- maybe just for a minute or two, maybe longer. My hair would be as wide and frizzy as could be! But it would be worth it.

Magdalena said...

Liebe Carola, das sind großartige Bilder. Wir machen in NZ gerade ganz ähnliche Erfahrungen. Beeindruckende Natur hat nicht nur mit Sonne zu tun.
Viele Grüße
Magdalena

Karen Lakis said...

I tend to be a sun chaser, but wow - that area of the island is stunning! The water still has that beautiful aqua color. Your photos are wonderful, thank you for taking me on this tour!

Tammie Lee said...

Beautiful photos, you took me there.
I love those trees that line the road.
You were there during a rainy time! Now a friend who lives there says it is very hot and not raining. But that will change.

Red Rose Alley said...

Hawaii is such a magical place. I visited Kona many years ago. These are awesome pictures, Carola.

~Sheri