Church, Temple, and Creation All in One Day

On Sunday morning I went to church in Kona. It felt a lot like church in Provo, UT and nothing too out of the ordinary happened. During Sunday School I slipped over the the grounds of the Kona temple. It shares a parking lot with the chapel. It was lovely to see a temple that looks very similar to other small temples I have seen around the mainland, but in a setting of coconut trees and other tropical plants. I found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus statues there, and was happy to see how much warmer they look than the ones covered in snow in front of the Provo Temple. I spent some time with them, thinking of how grateful I was for a moment away from the stresses of my life, thankful for the sweetest gifts that have come to me, while I am still waiting for the gifts I long for most. After a while I pulled myself back to the chapel to finish church with some lovely Hawaiian ladies in Relief Society. I loved that they called each other Auntie rather than Sister. Something about it felt so personal.

When I made it back to my condo, I lay down and took a nap listening to the ocean breeze outside and feeling that delicious soft air. This is the beauty of traveling alone, no one's schedules to coordinate, no one's travel agendas to satisfy, just doing whatever I want, although I can't say I would have minded having the right someone to share that nap with. Maybe next time.

I decided to take a drive to the north point of the island to see a place called Waipio, a sacred place on the island (seemed appropriate for the sabbath). On the way over, I was relating my story of the day before to my mom on the phone and explaining how disappointed I was that I hadn't had the chance to see the lava flowing. She said I should just drive back over and see it. I was halfway there at that point, but it was still another hour and a half and then the same distance back home. I hesitated and then decided she was right. After all, people come across the ocean to see the lava. So after a quick stop at Waipio, I continued on the island road, the only part of it I hadn't been on yet, passed Hilo, to the beach where I had been the night before.


Big Island Cattle


The Big Island Changes Scenery Every Few Miles


Waipio


I arrived at the viewing location just after dark, parked, and walked on a long road toward the beach. There were lots of other people walking on a road, that at one time led to a park, but since the volcano had taken over, just led people to a small viewing area. The viewing area was crowded when I got there, but I waited patiently for some unimpressed Europeans to move and slipped into the front of the crowd. There was a park ranger there who dipped a rod into the hot lava and brought some over for us to see. I couldn't see much as far as the lava went at that point. There were glowing red spots all through the large area where the lava was flowing, but it was mostly dark. When I felt like I had gotten my fill, I started to walk back to my car, but I heard everyone gasp. Heading back, I was able to slip in for a front row stand in a spot where the rock had just broken away and lava was flowing. It was a site. There are plenty of people who will live their whole lives and never see new land being formed. I feel pretty lucky to have had the experience.



Hot Lava

But, even when you have a up close view, you can only watch lava for so long, so I turned around for a long walk back to my car, and a very long drive home. Tomorrow would be my last day on the Big Island.