Spring Break on the Big Island - Day 4

Continuing Spring Break on the Big Island - Day 4

We spent the morning playing at the resort. We also watched other tourists swim with the dolphins in the lagoon as part of the Hilton’s Dolphin Quest.

Just before lunch, we drove down Ali’i (Chief) Drive to the Kuano’o Battlefield:

http://www.hawaiiweb.com/Hawaii/html/sites/lekeleke_burial_grounds.html

In 1819, King Kamehameha II lifted the Kapu (off limits), thus freeing the Hawaiians from a rigid religion that enforced its prohibitions with death. The king abolished the Kapu by simply eating with women. The king's cousin, Kekuaokalni, was the spiritual leader and challenged the king’s action. Kekuaokalni and his wife lost their lives in battle. They were buried in the terrace graves created by the battleground. A gravel path runs alongside the burial grounds, leading to a jumping spot called End of the World. While it may be fun to jump 35 feet into the water below, swimmers have to scale the cliff rock to return to their cars.

We drove back towards Kona and stopped at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort. The resort offers convenient parking for the recently restored Ke’eku Heiau (temple) in the shallow water:

http://www.historichawaii.org/Awards/2008/2008_recipients/2008Keahou.html

King Kamehameha sacrificed Kamalalawalu, the King of Maui, on this temple. The incident is documented by the accompanying petroglyphs etched into the lava stones. Hawaiians claim the land in front of the heiau is cursed - it remains a vacant lot after a series of failed businesses.

After lunch, we briefly walked around Kona, including the:

-‘Ahu’ena Heiau, King Kamehameha’s personal temple
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/ahuena_heiau.html

- Hulihe’e Palace, a Royal Residence loving restored by the Daughters of Hawaii
http://www.daughtersofhawaii.com/

- Mokuaikau Church, the first Christian church built in the Hawaiian Islands
http://www.mokuaikaua.org/

We flew back from Kona to Honolulu, leaving the lava fields and active volcanoes behind us. Indeed, there is no place like the Big Island of Hawai’i.