It was another no-swim day due to Tara’s sunburn so we decided to trek down the coast to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau or “Place of Refuge at Honaunau.” Back in the day if you stood in the king’s shadow or broke any other “kapu” you were sentenced to immediate death. The only way out was to get to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau before the king’s men cut you down. It’s like the original “Oley Oley Oxen Free!”
It’s a restored site and nicely maintained and awesomely lousy with Green Hawaiian Turtles which I have all named Tidey. Of course just because it’s an historic and sacred site doesn’t stop some douchebags from treating it like a playground.
Backtracking towards the highway, we made a pit stop at The Painted Church where some priest in the 1800s painted the inside of this tiny church. It’s colourful with hints of madness — like Catholicism. We were the only people there under 60 and the air smelled like Ben-Gay.
Then it was back to Kona for slunch sandwiches at Buns in the Sun and a quick stroll down hobo-heavy Ali’i Drive. Actually hobo isn’t quite the right word. It was more like old hippies who came to Hawaii with a misunderstanding of how capitalism works. They were selling hats and “flowers” made from fresh palms they’d take from nearby trees. It seemed like one step away from selling you a poem. Stupid hippies. I did see an awesome Return of the Jedi surf board though.
Back at the condo Tara fell asleep so I sneaked out to A-Bay to check out the sunset and passed by the Hawaiians dressing up for the Marriott’s luau and making fun of the midwest tourists.
This entry was posted on April 21, 2008 and tagged animal kingdom, churches, hawaii, hippies, star wars, turtles.
If you guys snorkel, and you haven’t already done so (and you’re not leaving soon), you should go snorkeling at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau. Go to the lava rocks across the bay from the Place of Refuge. There’s a little “stair” worn in the rocks, so it’s easy in and out. It’s the most beautiful snorkeling I’ve ever seen – better than Captain Cook, in my opinion.
Ah cool, I will have to check it out next time since tomorrow is our last day but I do want to take up snorkeling and appreciate the recommendation!