Around Hilo

If any gentlemen friends back home would be interested, I can pick up one of these beautiful Hawaiian shirts for you. It's only $142.50 plus shipping anywhere. Unfortunately, the hangar is not included. Let me know by Wednesday evening as my last opportunity to pick one up would be at Lahaina during Thursday's port call.

Danny and I got quite wet during a cloudburst just after leaving the ship. We had finally dried out by the time we reached Old Town Hilo for some shopping.

It was only about a three-miles walk back to the ship, passing along the way the famous statue of King Kamehameha in his Hilo Bay park.

About Hilo

Hilo is the gateway to Kilauea Volcano and Volcanoes National Park. Pele, the explosive fire goddess, is said to live in the very heart of Kilauea Volcano. Pele came to the islands long ago to flee from her cruel older sister, Namak O'Kahai, goddess of the sea.

Pele is credited with having created volcanoes first in Kauai, then on Oahu, then on Maui and the other islands while continuously searching for the perfect home, as well as the perfect lover.

Many Hawaiians believe Pele still dwells alone in the vast fire pit crater of Halemaumau and it is said she still appears to humans either as a beautiful young Hawaiian woman or as an ugly old crone.

From personal observation, I think the Hawaiians are right and I believe Pele traveled with us from Los Angeles and disembarked here at Hilo.