First stop on our round-the-world, month-long adventure, was the big island of Hawaii.
I wasn't sure what to expect, and was surprised at how much I loved it. It was ultra American, but has retained lots of islandy-feel to it.
Some highlights from the four-and-a-half days we spent there ...
The best pizza I've ever tasted. Made with spelt grain. Best. Thing. Ever. So good we went there twice.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__YtebSZJAVU/Sof-IsIz1JI/AAAAAAAAqFI/N6seuGpOsvk/s400/20090711-IMG_9665.JPG)
Snorkling at Kealakekua Bay, site of where Captain Cook met his end. Also a place of shallow reef with lots of colourful fish.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__YtebSZJAVU/Sof-IHZZvCI/AAAAAAAAqFA/auasEmyaBdU/s400/20090712-IMG_1284.JPG)
Watched a live volcano flow lava into the ocean.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__YtebSZJAVU/Sof-HZf-9_I/AAAAAAAAqE4/WV_4Gc7juew/s400/20090713-IMG_0032.JPG)
Swam with wild dolphins, including a dolphin calf.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__YtebSZJAVU/Sof-GglXaEI/AAAAAAAAqEw/Z9p7X75rOvw/s400/20090714-IMG_1476.JPG)
And the absolute highlight, swam with manta rays at night. Freaky but sensational. The look scary but are so gentle, and look like underwater butterflies performing a ballet ...
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__YtebSZJAVU/Sof-GEP_eGI/AAAAAAAAqEo/NnlHmM1avkA/s400/20090714-IMG_1645.JPG)
I wish we had stayed longer now, there was so much more to see! We will definitely be back ...