We spent day 3 on the east side of the island. On the 2 hour drive to Hilo, we stopped to visit Akaka Falls.
To get to the falls, you have to walk 20 minutes through an amazing rainforest. See the bamboo patch in the background.
On the way, we saw the Kahuna falls in the distance.
Chloe came along in the baby Bjorn. There was no way we could do this walk with the strollers!
Lucy insisted on walking the whole way!
The forest is very lush because Hilo is one of the rainiest cities in the world, very different from the extremely dry west coast where we stayed. Must have something to do with the largest mountain in the world (Mauna Kea) separating the 2 coasts.
Lucy tearing off ahead.
And voila, the Akaka Falls. 
The whole family made it!
Having a little rest.
Chloe got released from the baby carrier at the end.
Our next big stop was Hawaii Volcano National Park.
We stopped to view the Kilauea Cauldera. You can see steam rising from the Halema'uma'u crater in the background. 
Along the ridge of the cauldera (big crater), steam rises from many vents in the ground. We didn't go to close because they can be hot!
It's amazing how stark and vast the cauldera is.
Phil thought it might bring us some luck if he threw Charlie in to appease Pele, the goddess of Fire.
Lucy kept us on our toes. She wanted to do everything on her own but the park isn't really designed to let toddlers wander around on their own!
Here we are on the east side of the cauldera where it's more lush.
The Volcano park has a large variety of climate regions, everything from desert to snow to rainforest.
At the entrance to the Thurston Lava Tubes.
These dark tunnels were made by lava flowing down the mountain, cooling and hardening on the outside while the hot lava inside kept flowing out, leaving a hollow tunnel.
It would be very dark if they hadn't lit it for us!
After a drive on the Chain of Craters Road, we reached the point where the lava runs into the ocean. The island continues to grow as lava is still flowing. Unfortunately, just not on this particular day.
Charlie, high above the Holei Sea Arch.
It was created by the waves crashing into and eroding the volcanic rock.
As we were leaving the park, we spotted a rainbow.
Our next stop was Punalu'u Beach with its black sand beach.
Surrounded by lots of palm trees!
The beach is famous for being a resting area for the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
We saw 5 huge turtles in our short stay.
Charlie, playing in the surf.
Kinda hard to do when Lucy spots one and runs straight for it!
Tried using the tripod to get a family photo. Lucy did not want to cooperate!
Lucy kept us on our toes. She wanted to do everything on her own but the park isn't really designed to let toddlers wander around on their own!
Here we are on the east side of the cauldera where it's more lush. 
The Volcano park has a large variety of climate regions, everything from desert to snow to rainforest.
At the entrance to the Thurston Lava Tubes.
These dark tunnels were made by lava flowing down the mountain, cooling and hardening on the outside while the hot lava inside kept flowing out, leaving a hollow tunnel.
It would be very dark if they hadn't lit it for us!
After a drive on the Chain of Craters Road, we reached the point where the lava runs into the ocean. The island continues to grow as lava is still flowing. Unfortunately, just not on this particular day.
Charlie, high above the Holei Sea Arch.
It was created by the waves crashing into and eroding the volcanic rock.
As we were leaving the park, we spotted a rainbow.
Our next stop was Punalu'u Beach with its black sand beach. It looks like dirt but when you walk on it, it's definitely sand.
Surrounded by lots of palm trees!
The beach is famous for being a resting area for the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
We saw 5 huge turtles in our short stay.
Charlie, playing in the surf. You're not supposed to go closer than 15 feet.
Kinda hard to do when Lucy spots one and runs straight for it!
Tried using the tripod to get a family photo. Lucy did not want to cooperate! 
She must have gotten tired because she let me hold her!
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