Hawaiian Island Cruise

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Wednesday, 4 January 2023

Overnight the ship sailed around Hawaii from the east side to the west side to anchor off of Kona. Today we were on an excursion on land and then sea to visit the coast of Hawaii from Kona south.

As we were driving, we stopped for a picture of Kealakekua Bay where Capitan Cook landed when he first visited the Hawaiian Islands.

hawaii2023

hawaii2023 — The African Tulip tree is an invasive but beautiful tree introduced to Hawaii in the late 1800s.

hawaii2023 — Our next stop was the Kona Coffee Company where we were able to sample the famous coffee.

hawaii2023 — On the Kona Coffee Company grounds was a totem pole amongst the palm trees.

hawaii2023 — A short distance is Saint Benedict's Catholic Church, also called the Painted Church, is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Honaunau, Hawaii. It was built between 1899 and 1902 under the direction of the Belgian Catholic missionary Father John Velghe.

hawaii2023 — Father John Velghe painted frescoes along the interior ceiling and walls. An untrained folk-artist, Father Velghe depicted various biblical scenes, like Jesus refusing the Devil.

hawaii2023 — While the building itself is small and rectangular, Father Velghe painted Gothic vaults above the altar, creating the illusion of a European Gothic cathedral, inspired by Burgos Cathedral in Spain.

hawaii2023 — Virginia Ann sitting in a pew enjoys the guide's info on the church.

hawaii2023 — Amazing work by a self-taught artist using house paints.

hawaii2023 — Detail over the alter.

hawaii2023 — Local palm trees decorate the vertical support poles.

hawaii2023 — Detail of the saints on one of the walls.

hawaii2023 — The lectern in the right foreground with the faux cathedral behind.

hawaii2023 — A tiny cemetery in the front of the church. Beautiful with the ocean in the background.

hawaii2023 — There are several beautiful plants on the church grounds.

This is Red Tower Ginger brought from South America.

hawaii2023 — Not sure what this small yellow flower is called.

hawaii2023 — The Parakeet Heliconia is beautiful - another South American native.

hawaii2023 — The fruit of the Hala tree. It grows all over the pacific islands, but there is one species native to Hawaii. The leaves were used for clothing.

hawaii2023 — The fruit of the Noni tree - small white flowers poke out from the pods.

hawaii2023 — A Noni tree pod with its small white flower.

hawaii2023 — Then we drove to the beach - to visit the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.

The historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puuhonua. The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle.

hawaii2023 — Palm trees line the shoreline.

hawaii2023 — Looking up a tall palm tree.

hawaii2023 — Statues being carved in the park by Hawaiians.

hawaii2023 — Protector kii (statue) at the Place of Refuge.

hawaii2023 — Beautiful crystal clear water and palm trees - what could be more Hawaiian?

hawaii2023 — Curved palm tree leaning over the shoreline.

hawaii2023 — The Great Wall that encloses the puuhonua outside the wall (where the picture was taken) was home to several generations of powerful chiefs.

hawaii2023 — Back to the dock where we boarded a boat for a trip along the coast.

The walls of Kuemanu Heiau which is believed to have been devoted to surfing. It was used to pray for good surfing conditions and to observe surfers offshore. It stands opposite of an excellent surfing break, which is popular up until today.

hawaii2023 — The holua slide at Keauhou in Kailua-Kona, on the Island of Hawaii, is the largest and best preserved slide in the State of Hawaii. Hee holua, "sled surfing, or "land sledding," was a popular sport in Hawaii.

hawaii2023 — A scar in the lava rock revealing iron deposits creating red rocks.

hawaii2023 — In the lava and iron ore rocks is the face of Pele - in the center of the picture you can make out evil eyes and a mouth.

Pele is one of the most well-known and revered Goddesses in Hawaiian mythology. Known as 'She-Who-Shapes-The-Sacred-Land', she is renowned for her fiery temper. She throws molten fountains into the air, governs the flow of lava and has been known to show herself throughout the islands.

hawaii2023 — A tree clinging to the coastline.

hawaii2023 — The cliffs over Kealakekua Bay - where Captain Cook landed when visiting the Big Island.

hawaii2023 — This is the bay where Captain Cook first landed on the Big Island and when he returned a year later, there was an altercation and Captain Cook was killed.

This monument commemorates both arriving and dying in this bay.

hawaii2023 — The plaque honoring Captain Cook.

hawaii2023 — The rough coast just outside the calm Kealakekua Bay.

hawaii2023 — Our ship - Pride of America - as we returned to port from our coastline trip.

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