Aloha to the Big Island - Anaeho'omalu Bay, In the Air, and Landing in Honolulu

On our way to the airport, we stopped by Anaeho'omalu Bay ... 

... with a wide open beach!

Anaeho'omalu Bay is home of a canoe club ...

... notice the twisted tree!

The open air airport terminal treated us to a bronze statue, HULA KAHIKO.

Hawaiian Airlines offers hourly flights from Kona to Honolulu ... 

... I enjoyed the cloud formations during our 45 minute flight.

The sun sets to the West ...

... as we began to descend over Pearl Harbor. 

Notice the C17 in the lower right.  My house would be in the distance above it.  

Do you like sail? surf? fly?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 1, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Sadly, Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, and
Scott Caan did not welcome us home.

Aloha to the Big Island - Keauhou Bay (part 2) Black Sand Beach

Our condo overlooked a rocky beach .... 

... littered with coral!

The rocky beach gives way ....

... to black sand and coral chips!

Oh, a cave to explore ... maybe home to the menehune! 

Walking back to the road, I discovered a bounty of color ... 

... the yellow hibiscus is the state flower.

The pink hibiscus also prospers in Hawaii!

I also found a colorful house ... 

... with Chinese accents throughout the property!

Do you have any colorful flowers or houses in your neighborhood?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, September 1, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

"Care for the ocean"

Aloha to the Big Island - Keauhou Bay (part 1) Volcanic Coast

Leah is the winner from last week's posts - Leah!  Please send your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.  Here's the view from our condo's lanai and the coastal path along the condo property.

We enjoyed the kai (ocean) crash onto
the volcanic rocks.

The sea spray fascinates me!

Perhaps it was the menehune
who built these rock statues ... 

... here's the Lombardi trophy!

What do the rock formations below look like to you?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 1, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to St. Benedict's Painted Church

We stopped by St. Benedict's Painted Church overlooking Kealakekua Bay (at this link),

This church was erected in 1899 by Father John Velghe. Without any professional training and using house paint on ordinary wood he beautified the church with his paintings. In those days few Hawaiians could read and so he taught with pictures-most successfully.

Notice the Bird of Paradise at the alter ... 

... and the colorful ceilings!

We found this u-shaped palm tree!

Back at our condo, we watched the sunset!  Do you paint?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all winners. Comments are open through Saturday, September 1, 10 pm in Hawaii.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

 

Aloha to the Big Island - Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau (Place of Refuge)

From the National Park Service (at this link),

A Furious Journey of Life or Death was Determined by the Gods

Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the Kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Pu'uhonua, a place of refuge. The Pu'uhonua protected the kapu breaker, civilians during the time of war and the defeated warriors. No harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the place of refuge. 

We begin our adventure with the Tiki gods ... 

   
... who are plentiful at the Place of Refuge!

The carvings are replicas ...

... with authentic details!

The palm trees are also plentiful ... 

... with jalapeno shaped coconuts!

Do you have a historic site near you?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 25, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 26.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Hawaiian checkers, anyone?

Aloha to the Big Island - Kealakekua Bay

 Kealakekua Bay is tucked away on the Kona Coast ... 

... with the Captain Cook monument (the white obelisk in the distance).  It marks where he was killed on February 14, 1779.   

wikipedia.com

Almost 100 years later, in 1877, Princess Miriam Likelike deeded the monument to the United Kingdom.

The monument is difficult to access - you must either swim, paddle, or hike around challenging terrain.   Above is the stone beach ... one brave woman soaks up the rays!

My children check out the Hikiau heiau - a temple built by King Kalani'opu'u.   Do you have any stone structures near you?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, August 25, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 26.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

An extended view of the Hikiau heiau