You always get unexpected surprises when you travel, good, bad and the best kind: places that weren’t on your list that ended up being highlights.  We saw “historic banyan trees” just off the Hilo Bayfront and had to go see. That led us to Liliuokalani Gardens.

We got other surprises.  Top of the list in Hilo was Wilson’s by the Bay, famous for their shave ice.  Puna and I had our hearts set on a Rainbow Mac (rainbow shave ice in assorted flavors over macadamia nut ice cream).  The last raving review of them was mid-April this year, so we spent a while trying to find it when it seemed not to be there.  But it was, in fact, gone.  I asked a neighbor what happened.

“Just gone.  One day just gone. You know how it is; when lease is up, if you’re a success, they want more rent.”

The other surprise for the day was Pe’e Pe’e Falls, which you can’t get to anymore.  So we went on to the next falls.  Which you couldn’t get to, either.  But it was OK.  Akaka Falls made up for it.  See Cyns pics.

But since you made it all the way here waiting for more pics, here’s one from Puna.  You don’t expect powder blue waves under grey skies.