We arrived in Kona on the Big Island after sunset, and we could see
very little of the scenery. The drive from the airport to Alii Drive
was fast, and after only one wrong turn we found our hotel, named
Uncle Billys. Soon after we checked in and had something to drink, we
went to bed. With the six hour time difference, we were rather tired
even though the local time was only 10 pm. The next morning we woke up
to a very nice view, as you can see in the picture to the right, and
the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
Of course there were lots of things to see and things to do, but hey,
it was vacation, and we took it slow. Only by noon we were on our way
to Kahalu'u beach, where we enjoyed the sun and the view, and Cindy
had a dip in the ocean while Rob was trying to get the doves to eat
from his hand, which in the end they did.
After the important beachtime, we set forth to visit Pu'uhona o Honaunau National Park. This Hawaiian name means place of refuge at Honaunau. It was a place of refuge for criminals and people who broke Hawaiian taboos. Such actions were thought to anger the gods, which could easily lead to a natural disaster. To appease the gods, the offender was usually hunted down and killed, unless he could reach the santuary first. It was by no means easy to get to the refuge. The land route was dangerous because royal families and warriors lived close to the refuge, and the sea route was equally perilous because of strong currents and sharks. But if he reached the refuge, priests inside the sanctuary performed ceremonies of absolution, which appeased the gods and gave the offenders a chance to start again fresh.
After this very busy day, it was time for us to relax and have dinner at a seaside restaurant and enjoy the sunset.
More views of Pu'uhona o Honaunau National Park
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