“ The immense size of the canyon while standing on the edge of the cliff edge was breathtaking .”
The Kilauea Lighthouse sits atop the edge of a point above the Pacific .
– TOM PRINCE , pictured with girlfriend Gianna
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with the canyon cliffs , and ‘ Auku ‘ u ( black crowned night heron ) flying like mad up and down the canyon walls and above the stream below .
“ We also saw tons of beautiful local flowers and plants , including hibiscus in red , yellow and orange as well as the Acacia Koa tree , which was used to make the ancient canoes used by the Hawaiians ,” Prince said .
The Kilauea Lighthouse trail , on the other hand , is considered a much easier trek at less than half a mile .
“ The trail only takes about 15 minutes to complete ,” Prince said . “ We saw families walking with their kids and lots of couples enjoying the beautiful views .”
At the ultimate destination , the Kilauea Lighthouse sits atop the edge of a point with waves crashing against the rocks below . During his hike , Prince saw whales breaching beyond the lighthouse , and numerous Hawaiian seabirds singing and swooping around the cove , including ‘ Ā ( red-footed booby ), Mōlī ( Laysan albatross ), and ‘ Ua ‘ u kani ( wedge-tailed shearwater ). The finale was well worth the short trip . “ The lighthouse is beautiful with a bright red roof and lush green grass at its base ,” Prince said .
Kawena Hokuala | May-June 2022