Anyhoo, we visited several places in Puna, but I wasn't able to take pictures of every place we visited. But I do have links!
One place we checked out was Lava Tree State Park, where you can see lava formed in the shape of trees. The site explains:
The Lava Trees in this park were created in a 1790 lava flow, which covered the area. At the time this area was a native 'Ōhi'a Tree forest with trees growing up to 40 feet tall in a dense area. When the pahoehoe lava flow entered the area it filled the forest up to 11 feet deep in 2000° F molten lava. The lava that surrounded the 'Ōhi'a trees started to cool immediately, due to the cool wetness of the trees, while the rest of the lava remained molten. While cooling, the intense heat of the lava also destroyed the trees leaving a perfect impression of where the tree once stood in the cooling lava.
Because of the tall Ohia trees surrounding this park, I was really reminded of Northern California. It was very mossy and moist there, and it was really cool to see these tall lava structures that looked like totem poles in progress. Surreal and cool.
Another day we swam at Ahalanui Park, often referred to as the "Warm Ponds". Ocean water is diverted into the pool, which is then heated by the warmth of the sun above and rocks below (due to the nearby volcano flow). The water is around 90 degrees and really refreshing. While we were there, an older woman in a hawaiian dress sat on the edge and played her ukulele. It was too much! ha.
A really great place to swim is Kahena Beach. You need to walk down a rocky hillside to get to the black sand beach. On Sundays there is a drum circle (I didn't attend) and most days there are lots of people there sunbathing and swimming. Here are some pics from the path leading to the beach (I didn't take pictures of the actual beach, since that day most people there were nude and I figured they would object? But, there are some picks at the link.):
It seemed sunnier when I was there?
The water there is amazing.
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