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There are several areas of the Big Island where one is specifically forbidden to take a rental car- those that are deemed \'\'4x4 only.\'\' If you crossed into the area in your car, and got stuck, you\'d be in big trouble- and on your own for insurance. The Waipio valley has 25% grade incline. Easy to drive down, but impossible to come back up in a normal car.

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Leaving Waipio valley, it started to rain- and the scenery got more lush.

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At times the rain got harder and more frequent as we headed east towards Hilo.

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We took a side excursion on a scenic drive, which went through what amounts to a rain forest. The bridges on the road were built in the 20\'s, and are well covered with moss and the like.

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More of the scenic drive, with palm trees that are growing moss from the constant rain.

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Some more of the rain forest drive.

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This is Rainbow falls, just outside of Hilo. Hilo is the wettest city in the United States, hence the flowing water and cloudy skies.

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Another beautiful view of Rainbow falls.

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This is a statute of King Kamehameha the Great. He was the king that first united all of the Hawaiian Islands, and is well reveared in Hawaii. Kamehameha also made a contribution to warfare. He decreed that innocents, namely women, children, and the elderly, should not be targeted by armies. He did so around 1800, and the idea soon spread throughout the world. This is a statute of Kamehameha in Hilo (it actually stopped raining for this picture).

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A view of the huge crater at Volcano National Park, on the active Kilaeau volcano. This shot is from the rim, near the park visitor center and main lodge. You can see actual steam vents from the crater, however it is not presently active. Rainwater washes down to the lava flows far below the surface, and rises up as steam.

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This is a panoramic view of the Kilaeau crater from Volcano House, the lodge on the edge of the crater in Volcano National Park.

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This is Halemaumau crater (in Hawaiian: Halema\'uma\'u), one of the craters of Kilaeua. It is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess that lives in the great volcanoes and gives birth to the lands. This crater gave off a very sulfuric odor, which eventually drove many of the visitors back to their cars coughing.

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This is looking back from the crater, towards our car, and shows the clouds clinging to the volcano peaks.

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A closer look at the Halema\'uma\'u crater, and the lava flows nearby.

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A fun sign by Halema\'uma\'u crater... \'\'Don\'t Build Rock Piles\'\'

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Here, you can see the sulphur filled steam rising from vents near Halema\'uma\'u crater. It was just before this point that we realized that sulphur in the vents mixed to form weak sulphuric acid- hence the nice burning sensation that made us cough like mad.

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Offerings to Pele at Halema\'uma\'u crater. A very sacred spot for the Hawaiians. This crater used to be filled with water, however, one day the lake suddenly drained during an eruption.

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A vent at the base of the Halema\'uma\'u crater. Note the yellow sulphur stains on the rock- the source of our coughing.

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There are several areas of the Big Island where one is specifically forbidden to take a rental car- those that are deemed #Ţx4 only.## If you crossed into the area in your car, and got stuck, you#d be in big trouble- and on your own for insurance. The Waipio valley has 25% grade incline. Easy to drive down, but impossible to come back up in a normal car.

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