Hana and New Years

After Christmas, we decided to join some friends on their annual post-Christmas Hana Camping Trip. Well, except by the time we got our act together and called the campground to make a reservation, they were filled up. So we made a reservation for the next night and tried to make the drive quickly to catch up with them the next morning before they left, but we didn't. It was okay though, because it ended up being great just camping with our family at Wainapanapa State Park right on the water there on near side of Hana. We went for some hikes in the lava fields, played on the black sand beach, and had an especially fun time exploring the freshwater caves. Jonah tried some fishing, but wasn't successful, so we had some tasty hot dogs for dinner and made some new friends in the campground who shared some of the 25 pounds of steak they accidentally brought. 

There's the mermaid tail! The tourists were excited to see a mermaid swimming around in the underwater caves...

Hana is so unbelievable gorgeous. I'm tempted to make the drive every month, except that I think our car would go on strike. 

We also hiked down into a Red Sand beach that was also (as we found out as we came round the corner) a nudist beach. Awesome. Too bad most nudists are not very attractive. 

We took the long way round on our drive back and loved the drive, as usual. I love how secluded it is. The kids made some dams and waterways on this deserted rock beach halfway through our drive home. 

We stopped at the White Church. Back when you were allowed to camp here, Ana got a centipede bite on the head when she was only three months old! 

Here's Rusty Rust. We were quite proud of the car for making the curvy drive with aplomb. 

Jonah trying to catch a fish again. All the fish were on Christmas vacation. 

And we made it back in time for a rest before the festive New Year's Eve party up at our friends Malia' and Nalu's property up the volcano. They had fireworks, a four wheeler, and some ono grinds. It was a great way to ring in the great new year! Happy 2013!