Healy-Guttman Blog

During Bo’s Spring Break, he decided that as a newly minted 21 year old, he wanted to attend the 2009 Kona Brewfest.  I was planning on going as well so everything came together and we had a blast! 

 

 If you would like to learn more about the Kona Brewfest, please visit www.konaBrewersFestival.com .  The first event was in 1996 and it has blossomed since then.  From its inception the focus for this non-profit event has been the celebration of craft beer and environmental conservation.

This years event was a success in so many ways - the weather was perfect, the music (three different bands) was amazing, the beers as always were some of the best available in the country and the Trash Fashion Show was a kick.  A kodak moment of friends David, Blake, cousin Cameron, Bo and me:

This is one of those “Where’s Waldo” photo - yes, yours truly is right there in the middle if you look closely:

Although not part of the event, I just love this photo of  the local flying crowd and the Kona Brewery “wing”:

Bo and I also made a trip up to the volcano to see the continuing eruption at the Halema’uma’u crater.  This eruption has been going on   for about a year and has created a fair bit of “vog” in the air under normal trade wind conditions at K-Bay where the Love Shack is located.  One of my favorite places to get the latest on the volcano is here: www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm

Some photos from our day.  First, the obligatory photo of the Halema’uma’u crater:

It doesn’t look like much, but the lookout at the Jagger Museum where we took this photo is a long ways from the plume and it is much bigger than it appears.

Near this lookout are some steam vents, so we couldn’t pass up this photo op:

Hmmm - I was a lot happier than it appears…  After the museum, we headed down the Chain of Craters Road.  Down where the lava flows into the sea from the East rift zone:

On the way back to K-Bay from the park, I took an old ag road between Pahala and Naalehu.  This is a very scenic and recommended diversion from the highway.  You can read more about this side trip by
clicking here

Unfortunately the photo turned out pretty crappy, but at the beginning of this “upper road” drive, we passed this sight that we just had to photograph:

After this diversion, we continued North to home but thought we would divert once again down the “Road To The Sea” just outside Oceanview.  This is a very rough 5 mile 4wd only road that goes through some desolate country to a few black sand beaches that we had read about.  We made it about halfway before deciding that Crusty was just too old for this type of drive.  After Bo took off back to UND however, I decided that Dusty may just be up to the task and I really wanted to see what was at the end of that road. 

About 1/3 of a mile North of Hwy marker 79 there is a gravel road called “The Road to the Sea”.  There isn’t really anything marking the road except this sign:

OK, you probably can’t read it, so let me zoom in:

Contrary to what looks like a stenciled in afterthought about  this “private road” and “no trespassing” its quite permissible to take this road with the main caveat that you absolutely need a 4wd, quad or a motorcycle with the heart of Dusty.  It’s rough!  About half way down the road and about where we turned Crusty around, I took this:

One of the “private properties” referred to in the sign was this:

I know there is a story behind this and I would love to hear it! 

When I was almost to the sea, there was a bright shiny yellow gate with a sign indicating that this was the entrance to the Manuka Natural Area Reserve:

 It seemed a bit out of place and the sign said the “gate was to remain open” (so why a gate?).  This looked like a great place to take a quad but was a bit rough for Dusty’s almost bald tires, so I didn’t venture any further.  …and finally we hit the end of the road:

And of course the obligatory shot of Dusty:

And one of the black sand beaches:

Another great Hawaiian adventure comes to a close.  Although I don’t have photos, I did have a great whale experience in my kayak.  No matter how often I get close to whales, it is still awe inspiring.  Now its back to Whidbey Island and some racing.  …to be continued…