Big Island Love: A Peep at Polynesian Life

Captain Cook, Kealuakekua Bay

Where Captain Cook first landed on the Big Island of Hawaii on Kealuakekua Bay. And also where he died. We hiked to this spot twice, which involved a steep descent to a jetty and a thick coral bed and a very sweaty climb out. Note the fish just in the 6 inches of water. The snorkeling here was unbelievable. 

Birding on the Big Island

Yellow-beaked cardinal and Black-crowned night heron

Our Friend, the Peacock

Waipio Valley

Kona Moonscapes

Mark Twain in Waiohinu

KAR 274

KAR 274 is warming, makes a humming sound when its circuits

duplicate emotions. It’s hard to know what’s real when you’re riding around in a machine that you give name to. 

Kona's flowers

Show Turtles Aloha

Mahalo for your cooperation.

Sleeping Honu

South Point green sands beach

This spot is near the southernmost point in the United States and requires a trek through some uninhabited ranching lands on the Big Island. We were told it was about a twenty-minute jaunt to the spot, but it turned out to be a 3 mile, hour and a half hike over the tricky footing of the lava rock so common on the Big Island. It was lovely to arrive at the beach after a long trek in beachwear. I put my goggles on and swam for a while, not seeing anything but the plain sand bottom. I was just about to give up when an enormous sea turtle swam past me. I lazily followed him as he went up and down between depths around me just exploring. As with all of our turtle encounters on the Big Island, he seemed to find me rather than the other way around, and he kept close, reflecting a deep curiosity. 

The Palms of Rainbow Plantation

Pololu Valley walk

The Mauna Kea

Kona Coast Macadamia Nut Factory

Look at that pile of nuts. These were the most wonderful macadamia nuts, too. We chatted for a while with an old man and we jokingly complained that we were getting a lot of the rain on the Kona Coast and he gave us a complimentary bag of chocolate macadamia nuts because he felt bad for the weather we were getting.

Pele’s Fire: At the Edge of Apocalypse and Regeneration

Place of Refuge (Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau), on the Big Island

Paradise

I’d been scrubbing the deck, and all at once a chap said to me: “Why, there it is.” And I looked up and I saw the outline of the island. I knew right away that there was the place I’d been looking for all my life. Then we came near, and I seemed to recognise it. Sometimes when I walk about it all seems familiar. I could swear I’ve lived here before. 

(Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence)