Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Big Island of Hawaii - Kohala Coast


We have a winner from last week's blogs - Desere! 

On Friday, my family will fly from O'ahu to the Big Island of Hawaii for Spring Break.   Of course I'll post pictures when we return ... let me whet your appetite with pictures from our previous trips.



The Big Island is the youngest and largest island.   We landed on the Kona (west) coast - built up from the lava flows of the 1800s.   Let's take a peak at the historic sites on the Kohala coast (northwest corner of the Big Island).

Lapakahi State Historical Park
(at this link)


The park recreates a Hawaiian village ... 

... "from the mountain to the sea".

The village has its own heiau
(low stone walls and platform)

Driving south, we discovered the Pu'ukohola Heiau
(at this 
link).  Kamehameha built the heiau to fulfill 

the prophecy that he would unite the islands.  He lured 
his chief rival and cousin, Keoua, to the heiau.  After slaying him, Kamehameha ruled Hawaii, conquered six other 
islands, and negotiated "peace" with Kauai.  
He fulfilled the prophesy.


King Kamehameha himself did not build the heiau.
He recruited laborers and even slaves to hand carry
lava stones to build the massive structure.


The heiau overlooks the Pacific.


My children played "Hawaiian checkers"
at the visitors' center.


Continuing south, we explored the Puako 
Petroglyphs in the Waikoloa Beach Resort.


The developers created a park to showcase
the petroglyphs to the public.


The petroglyphs depict island life. 


Have you visited any "ancient" sites?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 17, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 18.



Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii


March Madness continues here at SOS Aloha! All commenters 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.


21 comments:

  1. We stayed at the Outrigger Waikoloa, but we didn't see the Puako petroglyphs.

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  2. Your posts are so fascinating. I really would love to visit the Islands to learn more about the culture and history

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  3. never got to ancient site but when primary school, our teacher took us to historic place but unfortunately the place was not open to public ;(

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  4. Great pics, thanks for sharing! There are many ancient places in Italy & I have visited few of them:
    The Roman Theatre in Trieste
    The Colosseum in Rome
    The Greek Theater in Syracuse
    the Greek Theatre in Taormina
    Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina
    Roman Amphiteatre in Catania
    Arena di Verona

    I would love to visit Greece to see it's ancient cities.

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  5. These pictures are really something ! I have never had to opportunity to visit ancient sites but I have always dreamed of doing so. The Collosseum in Rome is one that I really want to go to.

    I love anything Italian so that would be really special to me.

    Thank you for the giveaway !

    Desere

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  6. Really great pictures Kim. Thanks for sharing them with us. I haven't had the opportunity to visit Ancient Ruins but I would love to see some in Italy, Ireland and Scotland.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  7. I love visiting ancient sites. My most impressive was Delphi in Greece and the Parthenon. Amazing

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  8. Here in Las Vegas there is a place called Red Rock and in some of the trails there are petroglyphs, pictograph, agave-roasting pits and Hieroglyphs from the natives that put them there many, many years ago. My family and I have been out there and seen a few of them and the park rangers are always out trying to teach people why they should deface the markings because it happens more often than we would like to think.

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  9. We enjoyed visiting the Mayan architectural site Chichen Itza in Mexico. Have fun on your trip, Kim. It looks great.

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  10. Hi Kim!
    I have been lucky in travels...Italy for the Roman and Etruscan sites, Greece, Morocco, Petroglyphs in New Mexico, Montezuma's Castle in AZ, an ancient area near Limahuli on Kauai, Viking settlements in Ireland and Norway, and (this may not count but) the Cracker museum in North Florida.
    Thanks for the mini trips that your blog posts provide :-)

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  11. KIm, what kind of camera do you use? I've been going through your back blogs and love the photographs you take.
    Thanks!

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  12. Aloha, Shannon!

    I have a cheap digital camera. Hawaii is just so photographable!

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  13. I haven't visited any "ancient" sites. Fort Ligonier which is a British fortification from the French and Indian War was interesting.

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  14. A long time ago we visited The Citadel in Haiti which is a fortress high on a mountaintop. We were up in the clouds. Don't tell but we brought back a piece of cannon shot.

    catslady

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  15. Hello Kim
    See this is the adventure DH & I would enjoy,
    we have toured many sites in England & Scotland my fav's is Kirkstall Abbey truly a beautiful spot.
    In Scotland Urquhart Castle, Dumbarton rock,Dunnottar castle, kelso abbey. thats not to mention the small kirks & churches along the way.
    Have a good one Ann/alba

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  16. Kim,
    I always love the photo tours. Have a great time on the Big Island with your family.
    We visited Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado and saw some old indian ruins. Truly fascinating. It's been a long time since we went, and I'd love to visit it again.

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  17. Thank you for the fantastic tour - I really enjoyed it. I'm sorry to say that I have not visited any ancient locations/sites.

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  18. Great pics whoo, WTg winner
    Seen ankor wat gorgeous
    Kimh

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  19. Aloha Kim As always I love your pics:). I ever go to xi an the famous ancient site in china to see the statue of soldiers that were hurried alongside the king graveyard and it is very magnificient :). Aretha zhen

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  20. I saw some pretty old sites in Europe. I don't know if they count as ancient though.

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  21. I've visited tombs of Chinese emperors.

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