We spent 4 days in Waikoloa, a resort community in the north Kona area of Hawai’i’s Big Island. Waikoloa is in the rain shadow of Mauna Kea, the largest shield volcano in the world. Mauna Kea is dormant while the nearby Mona Loa volcano is quite active. The climate in the north Kona area is dry. Black lava flows and succession plant ecology characterize the area. The only trees of any size are near the coastal resorts.
