Tag Archives: South Pacific

February 3, 2017 · 5:35 am

Port 1 Hilo — Macadamia Nuts and a Black Sand Beach

Richardson Beach

I mentioned that there was a second commercial stop, this one after the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. That would be the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory and Tour.

Not exactly a photo stop, but certainly a tasty one as you can see from the bag of goodies Ursula is holding below:

Mauna Loa Factory

For a more photo-worthy destination we headed west back to State Road 11, north just past Hilo International Airport, and then east to Richardson Beach and Richardson Ocean park. It’s about a thirty-minute drive.

Richardson Beach

The attraction here is the black sand beach and the lava rock extending out into the ocean. You can get some pretty impressive shots here. But make sure you also head away from the shore for opportunities such as this:

Richardson Ocean Park

Today’s photo gallery will finish up this, our first port of call on that 28-day cruise around the Pacific. Next we’ll stop in Honolulu, but not your standard beach tour. We’ll be viewing the Arizona Memorial and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the Punch Bowl Crater instead.

Richardson Beach

Richardson Ocean Park

Richardson Beach

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Crown Princess, cruise vacation, Mauna Loa Macadamia Factory, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Richardson Ocean Park, South Pacific, travel, travel photography, vacation

February 1, 2017 · 5:35 am

Part 1 Hilo — Akatsuka Orchid Garden

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens

Our next two stops on the Ricky’s Tour were commercial enterprises, but no less entertaining than what we’d seen so far. I’ll briefly discuss the second commercial stop in the next article in the series, which will also include a visit to one of the Big Island’s famous black sand beaches. For now, let’s take a look at the floral delights of the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens.

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens

The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are located a short distance outside the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, to the northeast on Volcano Road/State Road 11. They have an interesting gift shop, and an absolutely stunning array of orchids for you to capture with your camera. Here’s what I mean:

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, Crown Princess, cruise vacation, photography, R. Doug Wicker, South Pacific, travel, travel photography, vacation

January 30, 2017 · 5:35 am

Port 1 Hilo — Kilauea Iki Crater

Kilauea Iki Crater

Our last look at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park before we move on. The overlook of Kilauea Iki Crater is along Crater Rim Drive. Kilauea Iki may look quiet today, but in 1959 rivers of molten lava flowed along its floor: