Hurricane Felicia & The Big Island

The following day we left Oahu to spend a few days on the Big Island in Hilo with our family. What we weren't counting on was the additional adventure of a hurricane. On Thursday evening of our trip Hurricane Felicia was at a Category 4, and expected to make landfall Tuesday sometime during the day. Then, on Friday morning it had lowered to a Category 2, and landfall was expected to be before 5 a m Tuesday. Forecasters were expecting Felicia to downgrade to a tropical storm before making landfall, but that didn't keep us from checking the Internet several times a day.

Yes, somewhere out there to the west is a hurricane. Wouldn't think it from the view, eh?

In the end, the hurricane ended up moving north of the Big Island and we were spared the flooding and damage other islands experienced.

While on the Big Island (waiting for the big hurricane of course) we visited the farmer's market...
Boogie boarded at Hapuna Beach (hands down the best beach in all of Hawaii)...
Got some quality time in at Volcano Skate Park...
Walked through the Thurston Lava Tube...
Went up to the Halemaumau Crater where a new opening billowed lots of steam (and lava is burning just below the surface)...

And had an all around good time with family.

Thank you Naeole's for letting us stay with you!