After upping our fiber content for the say we loaded the plane. Although I specifically request window seats we found our selves without one, and I am sure the local resident of the Big Island found my snapping away of the islands as we flew over them quite annoying, but he never lead on that it was, John did though as seen here..
We actually flew to Hilo first then everyone exited the plane in Hilo and except us and ONE other person that stayed on to continue to Kona. I tryed to get the captain to let us leave early since we had a 30 min lay over, but I was repeated laughed at... BUT we did get upgraded to first class since it was just us...YEAH!!! It was a nice flight from Hilo to Kona, we got to see much of the island from air as we circled Mauna Kea. Many people pay hundreds of dollars to see what we saw, now they may get a better view or more up close and personal tour of the island, not to mention a great view of the volcano (which the pilot was reluctant to give me LOL) but it was a nice addition to our trip.
After landing in Kona we got something to eat at a nice little diner, that was suggested to us by the rental car place, which we got upgraded at. The diner was called Chubby's and it must of been owned by a member or something 'cause it had pictures of both Hawaii Temples. Which I am not sure about others, but it always gives me the warm and tinglies to see temples featured in public places.Well after fueling our bodys with tasty food we head for the Volcano National Park, about 2.5 hour drive from Kona, but it was the one reason I wanted to go to the Big Island. So we headed out, stopping at nice scenic points along the way. We stopped at South Point (the most southern tip of the USA). 
Well by the time we stopped every where and all we arrived at the Volcano National Park about 4ish. We paid our $10 to get in and SEE the volcano. I was so excited to see an actual live volcano. We checked in with the visitor center to only find out that the only visible lava was another 1.5-2 hr drive then a 1-3 mile hike depending on what parking was left. I was ready to go, but I was not the driver. John was reluctant to go since it would then be a LONG drive back after dark. I promised and pleaded, finally after some convincing we were off...BUT as some of you may know that have visited the Big Island, it is poorly marked for tourist things, the maps suck and roads are not labeled, and no signs telling you that you are close to anything. We stopped at a local food market to get some flashlights since the hike would now be done in the dark, and to see if they might know if we were headed in the right direction. The checkout lady was like "Yea, I think that this might the right highway, maybe, probably. Its an island it just goes in a big circle!" Well I told John that the lady said that it was the right way, so we continued onward, and suddenly in the middle of nowhere the road sign says "Road closed to Lava Flow" Then right behind that sign was another "No entry at 8pm" Confused as we were we went forward we were meet with lots of people and a man with a flashlight directing parking. WE MADE IT!! My vacation was complete and now I didn't need to do another thing, I found what I came for. YEAH!! Well the hike in the dark was interesting, but clearing marked with reflective tape and poles. You get out there to the "place" and you look off to the distance and you can see a red glow. And every once in a while you can see a burst of lava jumping out of that red embery glow. About 1/4 mile away we saw the beauty of lava making new land. We saw it with our very own eyes. Yes I would of loved to see it closer, but what can you do. Either way it was WAY awesome.
Ok It looks way better in person, but it was dark and it is as good as it gets without a fancy camera and tripod
This is what the hike on the way out looked like
Well by the time we stopped every where and all we arrived at the Volcano National Park about 4ish. We paid our $10 to get in and SEE the volcano. I was so excited to see an actual live volcano. We checked in with the visitor center to only find out that the only visible lava was another 1.5-2 hr drive then a 1-3 mile hike depending on what parking was left. I was ready to go, but I was not the driver. John was reluctant to go since it would then be a LONG drive back after dark. I promised and pleaded, finally after some convincing we were off...BUT as some of you may know that have visited the Big Island, it is poorly marked for tourist things, the maps suck and roads are not labeled, and no signs telling you that you are close to anything. We stopped at a local food market to get some flashlights since the hike would now be done in the dark, and to see if they might know if we were headed in the right direction. The checkout lady was like "Yea, I think that this might the right highway, maybe, probably. Its an island it just goes in a big circle!" Well I told John that the lady said that it was the right way, so we continued onward, and suddenly in the middle of nowhere the road sign says "Road closed to Lava Flow" Then right behind that sign was another "No entry at 8pm" Confused as we were we went forward we were meet with lots of people and a man with a flashlight directing parking. WE MADE IT!! My vacation was complete and now I didn't need to do another thing, I found what I came for. YEAH!! Well the hike in the dark was interesting, but clearing marked with reflective tape and poles. You get out there to the "place" and you look off to the distance and you can see a red glow. And every once in a while you can see a burst of lava jumping out of that red embery glow. About 1/4 mile away we saw the beauty of lava making new land. We saw it with our very own eyes. Yes I would of loved to see it closer, but what can you do. Either way it was WAY awesome.Ok It looks way better in person, but it was dark and it is as good as it gets without a fancy camera and tripod
This is what the hike on the way out looked like
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