We are in Hawai'i !!!!! (I know, I can't believe it either !?!?!)

 So, we left Houston yesterday and travelled all day (and night) to get to the Big Island (Hawai'i).  It is just a long day to get here but then ... you wake up and you are in Hawai'i!!! So, it is worth it! :)

Today we explored the North end of the Island. But first, breakfast with Kona Coffee for Carsten! We went to Island Lava Java and had a very nice breakfast right on the coast.  Breezy morning, perfect for sitting outside. 

Next stop was Safeway for some provisions - no pictures - stop in at your local grocery store - it looks the same but with higher prices.

Headed North to Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historical Site.  In 1790 King Kamehameha built a temple to his war god. [This was about the time that the US was all about independence. George Washington was president.] The rocks have no mortar or other binding materials, they just chose the right rock as they built the temple. The King's brother was the only one excused from working on the temple because supposedly he would be cursed if he did ... of course he helped out and when the King found out he took the rocks his brother had laid and had some other guys take them out to sea and dump them - trying to avoid the curse.

The King ultimately ruled all the Hawai'ian Islands, either taking them by force or, later, peaceful negotiations.

On the hill (right top) you see the temple, the lower is actually another structure that is older.

 

We had an awesome audio guide which gave us information on the King and the area.  The King had more than 16 wives (according to wikipedia).  The area where the temple sits is actually a desert.  This area gets about 9 inches of rain a year.  A few miles away, to the east the climate is much different - because of the mountains and the prevailing winds, that area gets upwards of 300 inches of rain.

After going a bit farther North it started to rain.  As we travelled back the rain stopped as we neared the temple area.  Freaky.

We also learned that they brought mongoose to the island to combat the rat problem back in the day. Unfortunately, the rats are nocturnal but the mongoose are not.  So, that did not work out at all - now they have a mongoose problem.

This is a little Saffron Finch we saw. 

This is a Pandanus Palm Tree, looks like it is on (many) stilts.

We stopped for lunch at Mahukona State Park / Beach.  The surf was way UP and the birds were out in force.

some tree in the cypress family...

lava rocks are everywhere.

This is the statue of King Kamehameha (with the 16 wives from earlier). Funny story about this statue:

Commissioned in 1878, it was created in Italy and bronzed in Paris.  It was on a ship in the Falkland Islands on its way to Honolulu when the ship caught fire and sank.  Insured by Lloyds of London, a second sculpture was quickly ordered.  Someone fished the first statue out of the sea and placed it in front of his storefront, much like a cigar store Indian.  A Portuguese ship captain recognized the King, purchased it and delivered it to Honolulu within weeks of the second one arriving.  Damaged by the sea, with a broken arm and deteriorated surfaces, they dipped it entirely in brown paint and sent it to Kohala, the birthplace of the Great King.  They have jazzed him up over the years as you can see below.

Iris Regina

The winds were over 20mph today making the seas pretty rough!

Weird clouds over more lava fields.

We are back at our little studio apt now, having a Kona beer and resting a bit.  We will probably walk to dinner later because it is not too far and the traffic and parking are a challenge.

Tomorrow is a beach/snorkel day.  Supposed to be clear and sunny!

Aloha!

Sher & Carsten