If you fly into Hilo airport (located on the Big Island of Hawaii) on a clear day the first sight that will greet you as you drive out of the parking lot is a massive dormant volcano that towers nearly 14,000-feet above sea level (from its base on the ocean floor it rises 32,000 feet). Its Hawaiian name is Mauna Kea or White Mountain. It got its name nearly 2,000 years ago from the natives who saw snow blanket its barren slopes. These days Mauna Kea is more than just a scenic backdrop to sleepy Hilo town; it is a … Continue reading →