Four major telescopes atop Mauna Kea from left: Submillimeter Array, Subaru, Keck, and NASA Infrared. Haleakela volcano on Maui hides in the distant clouds

Minutes before the sun crests over Mauna Kea in the early morning, the volcano takes on a subtle blue color contrasting with the brightening orange sky and palm trees below

A panoramic view from Mauna Kea to the Kohala Coast with Mauna Loa in the background, taken from well up the slopes of Kohala. The streaming clouds often pour out of Waimea, at far left

One of the many cattle ranches that flank Kohala. Kohala is the oldest volcano on the island, and its lava fields have eroded enough to created pasture land. This lone tree suffers through much fog and rain on the Kohala Mountain Road

Panoramic view of South Hawaii from Puna to Mauna Loa and Hualalai Volcanoes

Stone walls still snake across the pastures on the lower slopes of Mauna Kea

Kohala Mountain Road follows the pu'u covered contours of the Kohala volcano, creating an interesting undulating journey from Waimea to Hawi.

A panoramic view of the Kona Coast stretching from North Kohala to Kailua and beyond at sunset. A classic Big Island scene!