We could see it far below; a thin crescent of ashen sand that split the emerald green valley from the azure blue ocean. The views from Hawaii’s Waipio Valley overlook are satisfying enough that there really wasn’t much need to climb down the roughly 1,000 feet to the valley floor. But we had never seen a black sand beach before and wanted to take a closer look.
A 30-acre Japanese garden featuring arching bridges over fishponds, rock gardens, pagodas, stone lanterns, and a tea house all overlooking Hilo Bay, Hawaii.
Akaka Falls State Park, Hawaii
These are just a few of the numerous waterfalls that grace Hawaii’s Big Island. We found these particular cascades just a short distance from the city of Hilo near Mauna Kea.
We had every reason not to go. The weather in Hilo, Hawaii, was unrelentingly bleak. A blanket of clouds and gray mist that sporadically turned to rain put a damper on this erstwhile tropical paradise and on our mood.
Besides, with visibility restricted to little more than an arm’s length there seemed little point in heading up the world’s tallest mountain. What new grayness would we see at the summit that we couldn’t see from the base?
Everywhere Once 