Pu'uhonua o Honaunau NHP

 

A Furious Journey of Life or Death was Determined by the Gods:

Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua

28 June 2023

We got to take in this Unit while on our cruise. We learned allot about the Hawaiian culture from this Unit. We only had an hour to take in the site but that was enough to get an understanding and meaning of site to the Hawaiian culture. There is not a Visitors Center, but the Rangers do give a talk each hour. We did not take in the talk and with our limited time we headed out to take in the site. We enjoyed this site and will have to plan a trip back that will give us more time to explore the unit. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 167th NPS Unit

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

 

Born of Fire, Born of the Sea:

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa - and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site

27 June 2023

They say timing is everything and this Park was no exception. After being active the last 5 years, it all stopped a couple of months before our visit. We were on a cruise ship tour, so our time was limited but we got to take in the major sites of Kilauea, but there is much more to see. A return trip will have to be planned. We were at the park 3 hours and took in the crater or Kilauea and the Visitors Center. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 166th NPS Unit and 24th National Park

Haleakala NP

 

A Rare and Sacred Landscape:

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the backcountry.

26 June 2023

The visit to this National Park is a must visit and truly an unforgettable experience. We took this Park in via a tour set up by the cruise ship. Tickets are limited for the Sunrise's at the Park so you must plan ahead to be able to see this amazing site, but Sunsets are not limited. We started this morning with a very early wakeup to catch our bus up to the summit. Starting at sea level and ending up at over 10,000 foot was amazing and going from a balmy 75 degrees then going to mid 40's and a wind chill in the 30's it was hard to believe we were still in Hawaii, so be prepared for this when you head to the summit. The sunrises are an out of this world experience that can't be described with these simple words. After the sunrise we had time to explore the Summit Visitor Center. We headed back down and made a quick stop at the main Visitors Center but was there before they opened so did not get to take this in. With the ride up and back we spent around five hours on this visit. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 165th NPS Unit and 23rd National Park

Grand Teton NP

Mountains of the Imagination:

Rising above a scene rich with extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, and alpine terrain, the Teton Range stands monument to the people who fought to protect it. These are mountains of the imagination. Mountains that led to the creation of Grand Teton National Park where you can explore over two hundred miles of trails, float the Snake River or enjoy the serenity of this remarkable place.

June 23, 2023

We made a short stop at the Colter Bay Visitor Center to take a break from the drive down to Salt Lake City. 

April 1993 Unknown Date
Karen and I took in a few more of the sites in the beautiful park. As always, we are wanting to make a return visit.

July 1990 Unknown Date
Us and our kids got to take in the granger of this park with a stop at the Colter Bay and Jenny Lake Visitor Centers. The views were amazing and I'm sure we will be making a return visit.

NPS Website

Our 5th NPS Unit and 3rd National Park

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway:

Located at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. The late conservationist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made significant contributions to several national parks including Grand Teton, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and Virgin Islands. In 1972 Congress dedicated a 24,000-acre parcel of land as John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway to recognize his generosity and foresight. Congress also named the highway from the south boundary of Grand Teton to West Thumb in Yellowstone in honor of Rockefeller. The parkway provides a natural link between the two national parks and contains features characteristic of both areas. In the parkway, the Teton Range ramps down a gentle slope at its northern end, while rocks born of volcanic flows from Yellowstone line the Snake River and form outcrops scattered atop hills and ridges.

June 23, 2023

We passed though on our way to Salt Lake City today. No stops this time but we do plan on stopping at Flagg Ranch one of these times. 

Apr 1993 Date unknown
Made the drive up to Cody from the Tetons with Karen.

Jul 1990 Date unknown
Made the drive down with the kids. This is a short drive but has much to offer. This road is the link between Yellowstone NP and Grand Tetons NP. We spent the drive trying to spot wildlife, but no luck.

NPS Web site

Our 4th NPS Unit