A True Big Island Hawaii Adventure Story
Get ready for the ultimate Big Island Hawaii adventure. What starts as a dream to see molten lava and build a snowman in the tropics turns into a relentless dance between the fiery belly of Kīlauea and the freezing summit of Mauna Kea.
Home / Stories
For Mischko In torn flip-flops through the lava, on my purple T-shirt in the eternal ice— and by my side for over fifty years. Thank you for sharing every crazy risk and making my life our greatest adventure.
Foreword
For Mischko In torn flip-flops through the lava, on my purple T-shirt in the eternal ice— and by my side for over fifty years. Thank you for sharing every crazy risk and making my life our greatest adventure.
Dear reader,
Have you ever experienced a moment when time stood still? A moment where the line between pure reality and bare survival blurs, making way for something that can only be described as magical?
This book is no ordinary travelogue. It is the log of a single day in 1992 when my wife, Mischko, and I surrendered control and felt the primal forces of our earth up close. It is the story of a journey full of extremes, taking us from the boiling hot, melting lava of Kīlauea straight into the icy deep snow of the sacred Mauna Kea—bare-chested, untrained, and in torn flip-flops.
Looking back at these 30 pages today, more than three decades later, I am filled with profound gratitude. Not just for the outrageous luck that protected us that day, but above all for the woman at my side, who has since supported every crazy risk in my life.
I invite you to step in. Leave your comfort zone behind, brave the 45-degree slopes in deep snow with us, and discover how a single day can lay the foundation for fifty years of shared happiness.
Come to Hawaii. Come to the realm of fire and ice.
Warmly, Your Texan
Hawaii 1992 – In Loving Memory of Ralf
When I think back to 1992 today, I look back at a time full of carefree joy, but above all, a deep, irreplaceable friendship.
Ralf wasn’t just a friend—he was my best friend. He was like a big brother to me, a true “muchacho” from Mexico. You couldn’t fit a sheet of paper between us; we just got along brilliantly. Our trademark was constantly teasing each other. Ralf loved making jokes at my expense, and I teased him back with the exact same joy. It was never about being serious; it was simply about laughing together from the heart.
The fact that this wonderful person would pass away completely unexpectedly on March 26, 2026, at the age of just 68 years and one month, leaves a gap that no one can fill. But in my memories of that year in Hawaii, he lives on forever.
Back then, we visited Ralf and his wife Susan, who is of Chinese descent, at their home on the picturesque North Shore of Oahu. It was a special place full of family history. Initially, Susan’s father lived downstairs in one room of the house, while Susan, Ralf, and their then five-year-old son Matthew occupied the upper floor. After the sad loss of Susan’s father—she has a brother who later took over the family’s flower plantation—Susan inherited this beautiful house, which sat majestically right on the cliffs of the North Shore.
Right there, in the cozy living room of our friends, I told them about my grand plans for this vacation: I desperately wanted to fly to the Big Island. My heart burned to see the flowing lava of the Kīlauea volcano up close. And I had this one, perhaps slightly crazy, dream: I wanted to go up to the summit of Mauna Kea to build a real snowman right in the middle of tropical Hawaii.
When Ralf heard of my plans to explore the untamed nature of the Big Island, he proudly pulled out a thick folder. He spread a detailed map out on the small living room table and pointed his finger to a very specific spot in the south of the island: Ocean View. He and Susan had bought a plot of land there. Ralf said with a smile that it couldn’t hurt to take a look at the area—maybe we would be interested in investing there ourselves later on. He gave us the map, on which the ambitious plans for the newly developing settlement area were already precisely drawn out.
I was already completely fascinated by Kīlauea anyway. It was one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, enthroned majestically in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and had only recently completely destroyed the historic fishing village of Kalapana. The glowing rivers had swallowed houses and flooded the streets meters high with unforgiving lava. I absolutely had to see this raw, primal force of the earth with my own eyes…
Did you enjoy this excerpt?
If so, I warmly invite you to discover even more gripping experiences and unforgettable island adventures! This chapter and the afterword are part of my exclusive book series, which will soon be available for purchase on Amazon. There, I present my most personal and thrilling books full of true stories that you won’t read anywhere else.
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of Hawaii and join us on our further journeys!
My current book recommendations for you on Amazon:
Hawaiian Gold Rush – Our unforgettable island adventures, secret paradises, and the true Aloha Spirit.
The Dance of the Fire and Ice – A fascinating contrast of the elements: Breathtaking forces of nature experienced up close.
Nine Hours Through Hell: The Day I Came Down from the Mountain Like Moses – The dramatic sequel and the profound experience of a return that changed everything.
Shadows Over the Wall – My secret escapes to the East, the eerie ghost stations, and survival in a divided city.
Nine Hours Through Hell – A merciless race against time and nature that pushed us to our absolute limits.
Breath of Death – A nerve-wracking fight for survival where every second counts and breath stops.
The Storm – When nature unleashes its untamed power: A dramatic experience amidst the storm.
Support my work as an author and bring pure adventure directly into your home. Simply click on the respective title to go directly to Amazon.
Thank you for your support, and I hope you continue to enjoy reading!
© 2026 Hawaii Adventures Shark. All rights reserved. This story is based on true events and is my intellectual property. The text and content are protected by copyright. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or publication (even in part) is strictly prohibited without explicit permission.