I had to look up my last flight, it was in 2009: Flight Around Hawaii's Big Island

Here is the flight this time:

Anyway, I'm glad there was a single flight club left on the island with a single plane left able to take 3 people (C182):

I had to wait a bit before takeoff:

Kona is the main airport on the big island

finally taking off

Kona has boats, snorkling and diving

The full tour of the island takes time, even in a C182, it was 2.8H total. It was nice to see the stark contrast between the different sides of the island:

my trusty copilot/CFI, who thankfully did all the radio and airspace work

even the kona side had older lava flows

beautiful waters too

more lava flow

stark altitude contrast

south tip of the island

After a while, we finally arrived to volcano national park:

crater road used to go around, but the volcano grew and took the road away

Jagger Museum is now closed because it's now on the edge of the crater and was damaged by earthquake

After a few loops, down chasins of crater road:

cool road to nowhere (after lava flow)

After that, got to Hilo and did the rest of the island loop:

lots of bridges

many waterfalls

Waipo valley

And finally back to Kona airport after 2.8h, also clearly built on top of a lava flow:

Not cheap, but it was fun to do this flight again after 13 years ;)