We are anchored out and tendered into the port by lifeboats...
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| Another full day today seeing more of these fascinating islands... Our tour takes us through Kona and along the coastline to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park...stopping at The Kona Coffee Plantation on route...free samples of the many varieties of coffee and interesting to learn about how the coffee bean is grown... |
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| There are two areas of the National Park...The Royal Grounds and The Pu"uhonua.... The first area we walked through was the Royal Grounds... This structure is a small replica of the "heiau" an ancient temple or sacred site... |
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| The game of Konane is an Hawaiian strategy game played with black and white pebbles on a flat surface of lava rock... |
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| The royal mausoleum built in 1650 and revered by Hawaiians houses the bones of King Kamehameha's great grandfather and other royals....the wooden images are ki'i representing Hawaiian gods... |
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| Farther along the coastline is the Pu'uhonua or the Place of Refuge Break any of the kapu or sacred laws, example catching a fish out of season, and the punishment was death. For those that could evade their captors and swim around to this cove they would find sanctuary and in a few days be absolved of the crime by a priest and allowed to go back into the community..... |
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| Imagine scrambling out of the waves onto the rough lava, although exhausted you are safe in the Pu'uhonua... |
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| Yorkieman and Daddy Bill studying the map for the self guided tour and reading up on more of the history.... The dry stone wall constructed 400 years ago defines the sacred space of the Pu'uhonua... |
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| This is a very common sight on all of the islands...one of our guides did mention that although it is very pretty it is an invasive tree... None of the trees on the volcanic Hawaiian Islands are indigenous but have been introduced by the Polynesian and European settlers..... |
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| Such beautiful colour.... |
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| The second half of today is a catamaran boat ride along the coast and again a very informative narration..... |
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| Just after leaving port we did see bottle-nosed dolphins but I wasn't quick enough to snag a photo.... |
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| The Captain James Cook Memorial and British soil.... Cook was thought to be the first westerner to land on the Hawaiian Islands.... It is also a very popular snorkelling area....the sea/waters around the Hawaiian Islands are very clear and very blue... |
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| We had hoped to see whales but not to be today, luck of the draw.... |
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| Our NCL ship The Pride of America.... The 4 of us get back on board and meet up with Susan & Richard at The Goldrush Bar !!! |
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| This is a rubbish photo but I wanted to remark that this is the first time we have seen the half moon in this position rather than "sideways" on.... |
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| He looks cold !!! Thank you Mario for another towel creation... Another great day seeing and hearing more about these fascinating islands... Part of the bay at Kona where we anchored is used for the swim training area for the Ironman Triathlon..... |
Hi Sue & Michael.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info , although I think that the punishment of death for catching fish out of season is a little harsh. Good to see that Michael can read a map,and navigate the self guide tour ( or can he?)
Spring should have arrived , but the daffodils are struggling against the wind and cold . Had a couple of good days ,but snow forecast once again for this weekend. Looks like that I will have to find my own version of The Goldrush Bar. Cheers.
Ann & Dave
We hope not to much disruption with the snow...stay warm and cosy in a "Goldrush Bar"
ReplyDeleteCheers...M & S x