2/28 Museums and Swimming

We got up and showered and then ate breakfast in the room. It looked like another beautiful day and we are anxious to see the volcanoes, but we knew that we had to get my stitches out first. We went to the clinic recommended by the hotel only to find out that it is a mental health clinic! Fortunately, it was right next door to the emergency room of the hospital so we walked across the parking lot and had the stitches out with no problem at all. Everyone was very nice. We were near Rainbow Falls so decided to stop there on the way back into town (see photo). Apparently, the spray creates a rainbow in the early morning, but we were a bit later so no rainbow - a beautiful sight nonetheless - an 80 foot drop into the water below. We went back into town and visited the Pacific Tsunami Museum. It was very interesting and highlighted the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis which devastated downtown Hilo (see photo of a parking meter that was bent during the tsunami of 1960). We then walked up the hill to visit the Lyman Mission House and Museum. The Lyman's were a couple who came over from CT to spread Christianity to the native Hawaiians. The house was fairly interesting (double lanais (verandas) - both top and bottom floors that ran around 3 side of the house). The museum was more interesting: history of volcanoes, plants and animals at various elevations on the island and a wonderful shell and gem collection - some from the islands and some from all over the world. The upper floor highlighted the native Hawaiians as well as the various populations who came here to work in the cane fields - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. We then walked down to the waterfront and sat on the roots of a banyan tree to eat our lunch and watch the waves (see photo). There were a handful of surfers who were catching the wave that you see in the distance and riding it right to shore. We walked around town a bit and then went back to the hotel to change into our suits. We walked over to Coconut Island to take a dip. This is a very small island near our hotel. At one time it had a high diving board and a slide into the ocean (we saw pictures at the Tsunami museum from 1918). Later it was used as a sanitarium for people with leprosy and small pox. During the war it was used as a training place for soldiers. There were pictures at the museum of men jumping into the water fully clothed and with packs on their backs from the high diving board. Now it is just a lovely park and we had a nice dip in the ocean for the first time since we have been here. Dave took a long swim and I stayed closer to the shore. We are now back at the hotel and soon we will go out for dinner. As usual, the skies have darkened and I think we will get a shower soon. Apparently this is the pattern here at Hilo. Tomorrow we will head out to see the volcanoes and do some hiking.