Our first meander was Laupahoehoe Point. The road turned right and wound down for about three miles to the ocean. There we found a campground, boat launch, and a roiling surf against jagged boulders of volcanic rock. Then it was back and farther north up the highway where we turned inland to explore Kalopa State Recreation Area, elevation: 2,500 ft. Consisting of 100 acres of native Hawaiian rain forest, Kalopa gets 100 inches of rain per year. There we walked a short nature trail with pamphlet in hand to help identify the native plants along the way.

After lunch in Waimea, we still had time to kill before our 3:05 appointment. So we followed 19 east to sea level and Pu'ukolhola Heiau Historical Site. We walked near a huge altar of sorts built by Kamehahameha the Great in 1791. Only native Hawaiians are allowed within the sacred structure itself. Pretty impressive knowing that it was built by men who formed a human chain 20 miles long to transport rocks hand to hand.

Then it was east back up 19 to Waimea at 2,500 ft., where headed south on 190 to the Saddle Road. Here we parked the car and caught the shuttle at the Saddle Road junction... that would eventually take us up to the top of Mauna Kea at 13, 700 ft. Our driver and guide, Chris, regaled us with anecdotes and an extensive knowledge of native and non-native animals along the way. He also told us how the most powerful telescope array came to be built on top of the mountain starting in the 1960's. The road to the top is steep and quite rough in places, but the view of the sunset was worth the cost of the tour.