We flew from Los Angeles to the big island of Hawaii today, with a short layover in Honolulu.

We’re now near the little village of Volcano, about 25 miles southwest of Hilo, staying at Hale Mauka (Hawaiian for “mountain house”), our home exchange.

Our home exchange partners, Rob and Diana, moved to the big island about 8 years ago and built the house we’re staying in as their retirement home (Rob was in construction). The house is located in the middle of a rain forest near Volcano National Park.

It’s going to be very peaceful here in the rain forest.

This place already feels like home, the decor is quite a bit like our home in the Keys…

…and there’s a guitar just waiting to be played.

But we’ve traveled through six time zones (it’s six hours earlier here than it is in Florida), so for now, it’s time for bed.