the ki'i deteriorate over time and have been replaced several times
these ancient Polynesian gods guard the place, better be nice to them
large wooden statues, called ki'i, protect the mausoleum
Hale o Keawe was a royal mausoleum for the bones of the ali'i high chiefs
many hotels are conveniently located at the beach
turtles are regular visitors here
the small secluded beach at Kailua Bay in Kona proper is a popular place to get wet
looking north, the mountains of Maui lurk on the horizon
the statue for Kamehamea I at Kapa'au
a banyan tree north of Kona
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau once was a place of refuge for those that broke the Kapu law
Hawaii's West Coast is where most tourists go, with
Kona at its center. Here you can linger on the beach, test the
warm seawater, go snorkeling or book a diving trip further out. And Kona is home to the famous
Iron Man Triathlon.
South
of Kona you find the
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park with a replica of an ancient temple, some huts and
impressive wooden statues.
The place used to be a last refuge for those who had broken the law (
Kapu) and feared for their
life.
At
Kealakekua Bay you find the white Captain Cook Monument to honor the great navigator who was killed here in 1779. There
is no easy access to the site, you have to hike or approach via the sea.
The
2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake rocked Kona and
buildings and roads suffered major damage, including hotels along the Kohala coast.
We have vacationed in the Kona area several
times, lastly in July 2001.
first steps of my PADI diving course, way back in 1994
the sandy beaches are separated by basaltic outcrops
the finish line for the famous Kona Iron Man Triathlon
a favorite activity here is watching the sunset at the beach
