Mauna Kea and diving with Manta rays and a dolphin

On sunday (29.7.) we drove to Mauna Kea wich is the highest peek in Pacific (13796 ft/ 4,2 km). We drove to the top of the mountain by car (once again, this is America ;)).
There was a visitor center (9000 ft) where they do stargazing every nights (it's above the clouds). It starts 6 pm and it's free. So we did that too. They had huge telescopes you could look at the stars and moon. It was so cool! Unfortunately there was almost full moon shining so we couldn't see as much stars as it's possible. Anyway they say it's the best place in the world to do stargazing.

Now we have been the last couple of days in Kona. We rented a nice room from Kona Islander Inn. This is little bit like hotel, they have reception but all units are privately owned. We have a kitchenette facilities, huge balcon and free wifi in our condo. This is the best value for your money so far, I'd highly recommend this.

Yesterday afternoon (1.8.) we spent our 15th anniversary doing scuba diving. We had booked two tanks dive including a sunset dive and a night dive with Manta Rays. Both of the dives were in same place called Garden Eel Cove, it's located near Kona airport.
First dive was just ok, normal nice dive nothing we haven't seen before but the second was something special. We basically went down to 8 meters with diving torches and laid down in the bottom heading our torches up toward surface. On the surface there was snorkeler and their torches were heading down. This is because Manta Rays eat plancton and lights attracts plancton. Then we just waited couple of minutes and then the huge Manta Ray just game and started to spin above us eating plancton. It came were close to us, it was so amazing. The cherry on top of the cake was that one huge bottle-nose dolphin came to check what is going on here. We have seen dolphins from the boat and had been swimming with them but this was first time we saw a wild dolphin while scuba diving.
Diving itself was really easy there but the waves were very heavy in the surface so going back to the boat was hard.

Hawaii TOP-3:
1. Diving with a dolphin and Manta rays
2. Stargazing in Mauna Kea
3. Walking in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Today our trip continues back to LAX, we are going to spend a weekend with Philip, Amber and baby-Delphine. And then we will do a road trip and of course, once again, Las Vegas is included ;)

Aloha
-Maija & Olli