Kauai - Tour - May 6

Because of the overcast and rainy weather on the morning we arrived in Kauai, the previously planned hike to Waimea Canyon was substituted with a boat tour on the Wailua River to the State Park Fern Grotto. We also had tours on Kauai that included a photo stop at Spouting Horn and a visit to the Hanapepe Lookout.  Our bus tour took us past other sites along the way with several photo stops, including having lunch at the Kauai Coffee Company plantation.

Kauai is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of 562.3 square miles, it is the fourth largest of these islands and the 21st largest island in the United States.

  

Musicians welcoming us to Kauai.

 

Thousands of feral chickens roam the island of Kauai.

They have no natural predators besides pet cats and dogs, 

and the population is growing at an alarming rate.

The man is feeding the chickens.

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

Wailua River Cruise

 and State Park Fern Grotto

Access to the Grotto is by boat on the Wailua River,

which is part of the Wailua River State Park. 

The Fern Grotto is known as the most romantic spot on the island of Kauai, 

and the area can be rented for weddings.

 We were entertained by Hawaiian musicians

on the boat while enjoying the scenery

along the Wailua River on the eastern side of Kauai.

 It was a pleasant boat ride.

The rain did not prevent our enjoying the Fern Grotto,

but I was glad I had a rain hat with me.

This popular attraction is a lava rock cave covered with fern.

The mouth of the cave is visible at the back in the photo. 

 (Narene and Sam)

This musician provided information about the grotto

before joining and performing with the other musicians.

This natural amphitheater greatly increases the acoustics 

of the bands that perform live music.  

 Fortunately, the rain stopped

during the performance.

The lady at the left danced to the Hawaiian music

provided by the five musicians.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 Hanapepe Lookout

This fertile valley once housed a thriving Hawaiian community

of taro farmers, with some of the ancient fields still

in cultivation today.

Steven Spielberg chose this location 

to shoot his prehistoric thriller, Jurassic Park.

Coffee bean field

 

Kauai Coffee Company 

This company is located on the Koloa Estate, 

a 3,400-acre estate that is known for its red dirt 

and pesticide-free practices.

Our pre-ordered sack lunches were ordered and eaten here. 

 

Kauai Coffee Company bean field 

with the ocean in the background. 

Countryside view from the bus.

Golf Course

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Spouting Horn

While modern geologists have determined 

that the fierce saltwater sprays and otherworldly sounds 

that issue from the Horn are the result of air moving through lava tubes, 

the ancient Hawaiians chalked it up to an ancient dragon-and-warrior tale. 

Note: As with any other blowhole, it is imperative 

that you always keep a safe distance from the rocks and the ocean.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The towel sculpture on our bed on the ship

when we returned to our room. 

Our itinerary was to have the ship dock the next day at Hilo to have a Volcano National Park tour on the Big Island, but this had to be canceled due to the active volcano and

earthquakes taking place there.

Instead, the Hilo stop was changed to the previously unscheduled visit to Victoria, British Columbia for a tour of the the Butchart Gardens  and the city
before returning to the ship and going to Vancouver.  

The next blog entry will have photos from Victoria and the Butchart Gardens.   

Kona - Big Island - May 5

Our day in Kona (May 5) included a tour to the Place of Refuge.  This National Historical Park played an important part in the lives of the ancient Hawaiians.  The site is where Hawaiians who broke a “kapu” (one of the ancient laws) could avoid the death penalty if they fled to this place of refuge or puʻuhonua. This applied up until the early 19th century. 

 The Place of Refuge,

otherwise known as Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau,

is a National Historical Park located on the western shores of the island of Hawaii.

Today, the grounds feature displays of Hawaiian history 

in a picturesque setting of lava, beach, and ocean.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau

 located at Honaunau Bay in South Kona.

This 180-acre national historic park was once the home of royal grounds

and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers.

In old Hawaii, if you had broken a law, the penalty was death. Perhaps you had entered into an area that was reserved for only the chiefs or had eaten forbidden foods. Laws, or kapu, governed every aspect of Hawaiian society. The penalty for breaking these laws was certain death. Your only option for survival was to elude your pursuers and reach the nearest pu'uhonua, or place of refuge, where no blood could be shed in its confines.

  If you had broken a law or were escaping from a war enemy and you were able to come to the place of refuge, you were protected and given a second chance. 

                               

It remains one of Hawaii's most sacred historic places.

 Although many pu'uhonua existed in ancient Hawai'i, 

Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau is the best preserved 

and most dramatic given the extent of its monumental architecture.

 

 Hundreds of years old yet beautifully restored.

Fierce kii, or wooden images of gods,
guard the sacred temple that housed the bones of 23 chiefs.

The heiau (sacred temple, partially seen at the left) 

is one of the oldest structures in the park. 

(Narene and Sam)

 We took a self-guided walking tour to explore the grounds,

including the Great Wall,

standing 10-feet high and 17-feet thick.

A black lava rock shoreline hindered those 

who broke sacred laws from approaching by sea.

Halau, a thatched work house.

The self-guided walk

included the royal grounds 

as well as the pu-uhonua (place of refuge).

 (Narene and Sam)

Pond filled with little fish.

  Part of an outdoor heritage exhibit.

Decorative wall along a walkway.

 On the other side of the rock wall,

the scenic park attracts local residents as well as visitors.

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

St. Benedict's Parish, also called the Painted Church,  

is an historic Roman Catholic church located in South Kona, 

in the Big Island of Hawaii. 

It overlooks the Kealakekua Bay in Honaunau. 

The church was named after St. Benedict, 

founder of the Benedictine Order and patron saint of Western Europe.

Father John Velghe, a Belgian-born priest,

built the tiny church using his own hands in 1899.

A self-taught artist, he painted the walls, columns, and ceiling

of the church with religious scenes in the style of Christian folk art

found throughout the South Pacific.

 

The murals include a nave of a Spanish Gothic Cathedral behind the altar,
as well as six murals on the side walls,

and a vaulted ceiling depicting the sky with palm fronds, stars, and birds. 

Without any professional training and using house paint on ordinary wood,

he beautified the church with his paintings.

 The frescos were used by Father Velghe to teach
the spiritual lessons to native Hawaiians who could not read.
This is one of the six murals on the side walls.

It is a depiction of The Handwriting on the Wall 

from the Bible (Dan 5:1 to 5:31). 

Pictured is Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, 

being shown the words by Daniel.

The church still holds regular masses during the week and on weekends.

Cemetery behind the church.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

One of the sites pointed out during our bus tour of the island.

Since 1996, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 

features a menu offering creative seafood dishes 

inspired straight from the movie Forrest Gump.

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

 The Kona Hawaii Temple 

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The temple is located in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii 

and is the second LDS temple built in Hawaii.

It was dedicated by President Hinckley, 2000.

(The Laie Hawaii Temple was dedicated, 1919).

Next photos were taken on the temple grounds.

Near the front entrance to the temple

were flower beds with a variety of orchids growing in various colors. 

This would make a beautiful corsage!

Before leaving the Kona Hawaii temple,

I had my picture taken wearing my Hawaiian dress.

(Narene)

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

Back on the Cruise Ship

 A photo taken at dinner on the ship.

(Sam and Narene)

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

The evening's entertainment on the cruise ship.

We enjoyed the Bruce Gold show:  

a very talented magician and comedian.
 

Finis Henderson's impressive impersonations 

of Sammy Davis, Michael Jackson, 

Willie Nelson, Julio Inglesias, and others

were entertaining. 

Finis (pronounced Fie-Nis) Henderson grew up exposed to one of the greatest talents of the mid-20th century, as his father was Vice President of Sammy Davis Jr. Enterprises.