Author: islanddave

May 19, 2019

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Kailua town center what was formerly the Kona Inn.
The Kona Inn originally built in 1928, by the Inter-Island Steamship Navigation Company, was the beginning of commercial tourism in Kona. In its heyday, the 20-room hotel was always booked with visitors, catering to the leisurely wealthy with its salt water swimming pool, tennis courts, and cocktail lounge, once known for the best luau in town with unbeatable ocean views.
Grounds of Hulihe’e Palace, Kailua.
The palace was originally built out of lava rock by John Adams Kuakini (governor of the island of Hawaiʻi) during the Kingdom of Hawaii. When he died in 1844 he left it to his hānai (adopted) son William Pitt Leleiohoku I, the son of Prime Minister William Pitt Kalanimoku. Leleiohoku died in the measles epidemic of 1848 and left it to his son John William Pitt Kīnaʻu, but he died young and the palace went to his mother Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani. Ruth made Huliheʻe her chief residence for most of her life, but she preferred to sleep in a grass hut on the palace grounds rather than in the palace. She invited all of the reigning monarchs to vacation at Huliheʻe, from Kamehameha III to Liliʻuokalani. Ruth died and left the palace to her cousin and sole heir Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulihe%CA%BBe_Palace
Mokuaikaua Church, located on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands. The congregation dates to 1820 and the building was completed in 1837.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokuaikaua_Church
Interior.

May 20, 2019

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King Kamehameha I statue in the town of Kohala

Bike ride to the next town, Kapaau-Kohala. Both Kohala and Hawi are in what was once a sugar cane district on the Big Island. Kohala is considered the birthplace of Kamehameha I. All up hill on the return trip, so easy getting there!

Interesting piece of island history.
Map of the sugar plantations.
Indecision.

May 21, 2019

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These sites are close to Hawi and on a rough road that runs parallel to the ocean. The van made it of course.
Mo’okini Heiau is located in Kohala Historical Sites State Monument near the town of Hawi on the Island of Hawai’i. It is one of the oldest and most sacred heiau (places of worship) in the Hawaiian Islands and is one of the first luakini heiau in the islands. Today, Mo’okini Heiau is considered a living spiritual temple and a sacred site to Native Hawaiians
https://www.nps.gov/places/mo-okini-heiau.htm
Maureen, Dan (nephew), Jen (niece) – I brought them here on the 23rd, the day they arrived.

Kamehameha’s birthplace is west of Hawi near the ruins of Moʻokini Heiau, which dates back to 480 A.D. and is considered one of the island’s most important temple sites. The king’s birthplace, marked by a plaque, is on a dirt road about a mile past the heiau. To get there, take the turnoff to Upolu Airport, then turn left at the airfield. Be aware that the road is in poor condition.

May 24, 2019

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Waipi’o Valley trail ride.
Poco and rider with the slightly out of focus shot. He knew his place in line, in front he would get too far out so we hang in the back where he eats or drinks depending, and then we catch up. Most times right on the tail of the horse in front. This was fun. Our guides were very enthusiastic and having grown up in the valley shared a lot of history and culture.
Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea.
Seared Ahi BLT with 1/2 pint pilsner. Best!
Mauna Kea – 13,796 feet, above the clouds! The Rogue barely made it. Chilly in the shade and quite windy.

Full day with my peeps, fun time!

May 25, 2019

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Chain of Craters Road, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Caldera overlook.
Ohi’a-lehua
The legend of the Ohia tree and the Lehua blossom
The legend says that one day Pele met a handsome warrior named Ohia and she asked him to marry her. Ohia, however, had already pledged his love to Lehua.  Pele was furious when Ohia turned down her marriage proposal, so she turned Ohia into a twisted tree.
Lehua was heartbroken, of course. The gods took pity on Lehua and decided it was an injustice to have Ohia and Lehua separated.  They  thus turned Lehua into a flower on the Ohia tree so that the two lovers would be forever joined together.
1969-74 lava flows

May 26, 2019

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Kealakekua Bay, Captain Cook monument is on the far side of the bay. The extreme downhill hike which you might make out on the far slope is 1 3/4 miles one way dropping 1,300 feet. The age difference between O’ahu and the Big Island is apparent when I notice that most beaches here you need to make a winding road trip to the beach where on O’ahu the road and the beach are near the same elevation.

May 27, 2019

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From the top of Polulu Valley
To down in the valley
Along the shore I found this interesting in the way ocean forces arranged everything.

At this point I have a toe on each foot that I’ve nearly broken or stubbed and when trying to unstick a window I dropped it on a finger. 3 purple digits.

May 28, 2019

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Say goodbye to my folks, clean the Hawi house then make my way to Captain Cook with a stop in Kailua and a $5 fish taco lunch.
New place until June 6th. 81-2125 Haku Nui Road, Captain Cook. Nice view of the ocean. A very off-off the grid place. Fits me and what I want, at this point in my stay.

June 1, 2019

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I’m off the grid at my new place on Haku Nui Road. The apartment is over the storage/garage building located behind the house at the back of the property which is 0.7 miles uphill on a single lane road. If not for the dogs barking and roosters crowing at 4 a.m. I would hear nothing but the birds and insects, bit noisy that early in the morning. The apartment is nice, one big room like I had at Makaha. Rainwater reservoir tanks for showers and cooking, bottled drinking water, propane stove and on demand hot water. Located in Captain Cook and minutes away from stores and shops, overlooking the ocean and high enough up the mountain where it might rain here but not down there. And green all around.

Gold-Dust Day gecko stare down in Kailua. I didn’t share so it jumped on me, still I held, steadfast, fearless….I paid for it! Cappuccino with a scoop of macadamia vanilla ice cream, all mine!