The word "Kona" is often used to identify a specific coffee, to characterize the winds, and differentiate Kailua on the Big Ialand from the Kailua on Oahu (where President Obama vacations each year). Kona-Kailua is a popular destination on the Big Island. From Hawaii Web,
Nestled at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano, is the main western city of Kailua-Kona. In ancient times, this area was considered the premier place to live due to the excellent weather and good water. Many kings made their homes here. Later, missionaries built churches and residences turning the tiny fishing village into a small seaport.
The main street, Ali'i Drive, runs along the oceanfront through the heart of the city from Kailua Pier to the Kuamo'o Battlefield. This charming town mixes numerous historical sites with modern tourist attractions.
The renowned annual Ironman Triathlon starts in Kailua-Kona just to the left of Kailua Pier. Athletes swim 2.4 miles in open ocean starting at this site. Afterwards they ride bikes for 112 miles through lava fields and then run 26.2 additional miles to complete this rugged course.
 |
| The Hulihe'e Palace is the one of three Royal Palaces in Hawaii and the US. (great trivia should you play Jeopardy!) |
 |
| It may look plain on the outside but it is full of Hawaiian history on the inside. |
 |
| The palace overlooks the harbor. Here is the link to the palace. |
 |
| Across the street is the Moku'aikaua Church. |
 |
| It was built in 1819 shortly after the kapu (forbidden) system was abolished when Kamehameha II ate with women. |
 |
| We thought it was an unusual name - Scandanavian Shave Ice. |
 |
| King Kamehameha's private heiau. |
 |
| Native Hawaiians perform special ceremonies in the heiau. |
 |
| It overlooks the harbor where children paddle. |
 |
| Kama'aina plays the slack key guitar. |
I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter from this week's blog. To enter the giveaway,
1. Have you visited a historic harbor town?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, March 17, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 18.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
Remember March Madness here at SOS Aloha! All commenters to my blogs in March will be entered into a special drawing for prizes from RT in Chicago - 3 US, 3 Canadian, and 3 international readers will win a package with books and goodies. Comments can be made at:
- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com
I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2.
Andrew is tall enough, but David is not!
A historic harbor town...I don't think so. I've only visited the ocean in California and I don't think I went anywhere historic.
ReplyDeleteLoved all the pictures.
I haven't visited a historic harbor town.
ReplyDeleteHarbor towns in my region? Definitely Trieste with its head office of "Austrian Lloyd" (current name "Italia Marittima"). The company was founded in the 19th century and became one of the world's biggest shipping companies. It had several important lines from Trieste to Bombay, Alexandria in Egypt, etc. And it was one of the first to steam ships.
ReplyDeleteI've been to San Juan which has a Fort called El Moro and it has a huge harbor.
ReplyDeletecatslady
Yes I have visited Boston's historic harbor, Newport RI, Mystic and New London CT and San Diego. They are unique
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures Kim. Hawaii is so full of History.
ReplyDeleteI have visited several times Cape May in my home state of New Jersey.This was take from Fodor's site about Cape May.
"Cape May, New Jersey
The southernmost point in New Jersey, believed to be the oldest beachfront resort in the country, is a National Historic Landmark. Cape May today retains more than 600 Victorian-era houses, built from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s."
Thanks Kim.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
We've visited Boston, and we've gone to San Juan, Puerto Rico which has two forts and Old San Juan, which was really fun to walk around.
ReplyDeleteI love all the Hawaiian photos and history. Thanks for the great posts!
Great pics whoo
ReplyDeleteKimh
Love the pictures! Yes, I've visited a number of historic harbors: Boston, Mystic Seaport, and the Baltimore harbor - which is probably my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI've never visited a historical harbor town, but would like to.
ReplyDeleteI've visited Boston Harbor. Loved the pics, Kim. Hope you and the family are having a blast.
ReplyDeleteGreat Pictures. Loved the one of the boys in the cut outs.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in San Francisco which has a lot of history around the harbor. I've been to quite a few other harbor towns around the Bay Area and along the California coast, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Diego, so many! Tiburon and Sausalito are two favorites.
I have visited Saint Augustine and Carabell in FL, Baltimor (agree with Karen C, it's beautiful!) Lahaina and a couple others on Maui, Honolulu, of course, Lihue and Hanalei on Kauai, a few places in Mexico and several across Europe (and Casablanca in Morocco.)
There is something magical about Harbor towns, the bells on the masts as the boats sway, the hometown restaurants and other businesses dotting the hillsides and how so many in the town know each other. Pretty special. Maybe that's why there are so many books written about harbor towns. (I'm actually reading the Lucky Harbor series from Jill Shalvis right now :-)
never visted a historical harbor town ;(
ReplyDeleteDoes St. Augustine count as harbor town? IF so, I have been there dozens of times
ReplyDeleteOnly historic harbor town that I ever got close to was Robben Island in Cape Town and it is not really that historic but it is the closest to it over here.
ReplyDeleteDesere
I've been to Cape May in New Jersey.
ReplyDeletest augustine fla . but otherwise no
ReplyDeleteblackroze37