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1    Introduction & at-sea days
2    Lahaina
3    Nawiliwili
4    Honolulu
5    Kona
6    Hilo
7    Dining
8    Entertainment, days at-sea, Ensenada, & home
 
 

Kona

Kona is on the big island of Hawaii.  This was another stop where the ship anchored in the harbor and we were tendered to shore.  We again had scheduled two tours for this stop.  Our morning tour was a bus tour of Kona.  After seeing some of the town, we went to a coffee museum.  Here the driver carefully instructed us how to approach the samples of their rum cake.  If there was a "guard", we were to pass by and get a sample.  Then we were to go around the coffee display and circle back to get another sample.  Then we were to go downstairs and pass it again on the way up.  By the time he finished his procedure, we would have about 6 samples.  He then added that if there were no "guard", there was no problem.  The museum also had samples of various types of Kona Coffee, a gift shop, and museum displays.
 

	The coffee museum had samples of a number of types of Kona coffee, as well as the bus driver recommended rum cake samples.
There are a number of banana trees along the road

We then went to a small church called the "Painted Church".  An early missionary decided to build this church to convert the locals to Christianity.  He did not realize that these were outdoor people who were afraid when they were "enclosed" in the building.  As a measure to reassure them, he used ordinary house paints, and although he had no artistic experience, he painted the inside of the church to represent an outdoor scene, with sky and towering palm trees on the ceiling and various religious murals on the wall panels.  It was beautiful.
 

	This is the outside of the Painted Church.
The ceiling of the painted church is done to look like the sky.
	Religous murals adorn the wall panels.

Next we went to the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.  Yes, the bus driver had us practice the pronunciation, but please don't ask me now!  This place consists of former Royal Grounds and a Place of Refuge.  There were many kapus, laws, in the early times.  These were all punishable by death.  Some of these were very trivial, such as getting too close to royality, walking in the chief's footsteps, allowing your shadow to fall on royal grounds, etc.  One way to avoid the death penalty was to come to the place of refuge.  Once he safely made his way there, a kahuna pule (priest) could perform a ceremony of absolution.  The offender could then return home safely.
 

The Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is a beautiful setting.
	A couple is relaxing in the shade of a Banyon tree.
These carvings guarded the royal house behind them, on this royal land.
	This canoe was for the exclusive use of the royal family and their attendants.
The Hawaiian Sea Turtles are a threatened species.  You are not allowed to approach or disturb them.

The grounds were beautiful and had some of the original thatched huts, ceremonial carvings, and examples of dugout outriggers.  It was a gorgeous location with black lava shores, tall palm trees, and a very pretty harbor.

Our afternoon tour was a ride in a glass bottom boat.  We saw similar sights to those we saw on the submarine ride, but from a totally different perspective.  We also went through a school of dolphins as we were cruising.  It was very enjoyable.
 

	The view from the glass bottom boat was similar, but from a different perspective than that from the submarine.
Early in the boat ride we went through a school of Dolphins.  Many were just showing breaking the surface.  These are right next to the boat and just under water.
	At one point I looked out one of the oval windows and saw this image of our ship.
Another view of the coral reef.