Previously, on the Big Island
Above/featured: Facing south to Mauna Loa, from Kohala Mountain Road – 20 May 2008 (450D).
I’ve already described memorable return visits to Berlin and Prague, and I wanted to end the trio of “previous” posts with something a little more wild and natural, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
In a previous life, my first visit to Hawaii and the Big Island occurred in 1999 after I had successfully applied for observing and research nights on the CFHT telescope near the Mauna Kea summit. Between 2006 and 2011, I worked at Gemini Observatory South in Chile, and I travelled occasionally to the Big Island for research meetings and consultations with colleagues at the offices of Gemini North. My last visit occurred in early-2012 at the outset of my year-long around the world journey.
The yearning to hop back across the great western pond is deeply imbedded with many memories; the following 10 images is as good a place to start.
Around the Big Island
Chain of Craters Road near Pu’u Loa, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – 29 Jan 2007 (A510).
The Marriott Waikoloa was the host site for the 2008 Gemini-Subaru joint observatory WFMOS workshop – 19 May 2008 (450D).
Early morning on Kohala Mountain Road: south towards dormant volcano Hualālai (left) and the Puakō coastline (right) – 20 May 2008 (450D).
End of highway 270, Pololū Valley Lookout (north flank of Kohala volcano) – 21 May 2008 (450D).
North of Hawi is Upolu regional airport (UPP) with single runway 7/25. Across Maui channel, Haleakalā looms large to the northwest. Photo on 7 Dec 2009 (450D).
Facing north to cinder cones on the flank of extinct volcano Kohala, as viewed from the 13th-hole of the Mauna Kea Golf Course. From left to right respectively are the cones Pu’u Honu, Pu’u Pili, Pu’u Iki, and Pu’u Lapalapa. The green line running from left to right below the cones is state highway 250, known commonly as Kohala Mountain Road. Photo on 8 Dec 2009 (450D).
Laupāhoehoe Point: the village below was swept away in the tsunami following the 1946 Alaska earthquake – 21 Jan 2012 (450D).
Deep wide chasm of the Waipio Valley with taro fields below (east flank of Kohala volcano) – 21 Jan 2012 (450D).
Ship hoist near Ka Lae (South Point), with the white turbines of the Pakini Nui wind farm (5 km) and the shallow rise of dormant Hualālai volcano in the background (85 km). Photo on 22 Jan 2012 (450D).
Ka’u is one of the least-populated and remote regions on the Big Island. Here, Ka Lae is the southern most point in Hawaii and the US, and it’s where the first Polynesians likely arrived to unpopulated Hawaii between 400 and 500 AD/CE. – 22 Jan 2012 (450D).
I made all photos above from 2007 to 2012 with Canon cameras: PowerShot A510 (A510) and EOS450D/Rebel XSi (450D). Alle Fotoaufnahmen sind mit Wasserzeichen versehen worden. Acknowledgements go to Journeys with Johnbo for LAPC no.92 in the week of 11-17 Apr 2020. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-hmj.
Previously, …
• In Berlin.
• In Prague.
• On the Big Island.
Fotoeins Fotografie 
16 Responses to “Previously, on the Big Island”
Great collection of photos of the Big Island! The End of Highway 270 coastline reminded me of the coastline on the north shore of Kauai just east of the Kilauea Lighthouse. The only thing missing is the large rock just offshore. Your collection of images makes me want to return and see more of the islands, and the Big Island especially.
Thanks for sharing all of your collections for this week’s challenge!
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Hi and thanks, John. If people can find them, the quiet spots in Hawaii are also some of the most beautiful, and that’s what I was also trying to convey. I’ve only stepped foot on Oahu and the Big Island, and it seems only natural I’m curious about Maui and Kauai. But I’d also like to spend some time exploring the volcanoes on the Big Island. Thanks again for your comment and for stopping by!
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Beautiful beautiful. Been there, loved it.
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Thanks, John. Do you have your “favorite” island?
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Maui and Hawaii, I suppose. Hawaii is quieter, IMO.
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Hi, John. Almost everyone says the Big Island is quieter. I found that after driving around the Island on the Belt and Saddle Roads, I won’t complain about finding relative peace and quiet.
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Henry thank you for the virtual trip to the Big Island, I have never been yet.
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Hi, Cornelia. When the situation improves, I hope you can make a trip to the Big Island: rent a car, and drive the island slowly; stay a couple of nights in Hilo, and stay a couple of nights on the Kona side.
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Thank you Henry for your recommendations, it sounds very tempting.
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Beautiful.
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Thanks for your comment and stopping by!
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[…] • In Berlin. • In Prague. • On the Big Island. […]
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[…] • In Berlin. • In Prague. • On the Big Island. […]
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Thanks for such beautiful pictures of the big island. I am a little envious that you got to look through the big telescope. Great post.
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Hi and thanks, Geri. In today’s practice, very few research astronomers are able to look at the sky through an eyepiece at a big telescope because of logistics and instrumentation. Getting to use the telescope was and will always be a thrill and a privilege. In that regard, I miss Hawaii’s Big Island and Chile. Thanks again for your kind comment and for stopping by!
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[…] to travel and meet with my colleagues at Gemini North in Hilo. At the initial stages of my RTW, my return to the Big Island includes a more complete drive around the island’s outer […]
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