Well, let me tell you about today. It started off a little rough. It involved lava rock and a car. That's all I'm sayin! Once we got past that we headed out on our 3 hour trek to the other side of the island. It was a long long long long drive, in the rain. I was driving and managed to get lost more than once! We were trying to get to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park. It was the Place of Refuge in 1550. Those who were too old, too young, or unable to fight in wars, defeated warriors, and law breakers went here to seek safety and receive a ceremony of absolution so they could return home without being killed. Sounds nice right?
Anyways, I was on a mission to find this place.We finally found the road with the sign saying 3 miles that way when the GPS decided to make us drive in circles...literally. We drove in a big circle past some crazy Hawaiian Rodeo and back again. We ditched the GPS and just followed the signs.
We finally made it and it was really cool! Not to mention beautiful!!! The Kona side of the island has sandy beaches. The Hilo side where we have spent most of our time is very rocky, and they are smooth rocks, they are lava rocks that hurt your feet!
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| Pretending to play Konane. We really don't know how to do it! |
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| Tiki Man! |
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| We're beat! |
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| Rebuilt mausoleum that once held the bones of 23 ali'i (noble chiefs). Offerings were placed on the tower. |
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| The Ki'i stand watch over the above temple. They are trying to keep TJ out... |
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| This guy was building a tiki man! |
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| This wall was built in the 1500's and is 17 feet thick! |
Once we were finished at the national park we made our way over to Greenwell Kona Coffee. We took a tour of the largest distributor of the Kona coffee bean. They ship all over the world and to Starbucks! Lol! I had no idea that coffee came from a tree or that it took so so long to get the bean to perfection. While at the coffee farm I made friends with a chameleon! I loved her and wanted to bring her home, except Elizabeth would eat her.
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| This coffee bean tree is 120 years old! They don't use it anymore but it's still cool! |
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| The weigh station. |
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| 120 year old weigh station |
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| Apparently they let the beans dry in the sun for 10 days! |
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| Huge avocados just randomly growing! |
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| My friend! Can you see her? |
Finally a sweet picture of the moms! I love them! And without them we wouldn't be here! :)
Tomorrow we head to Oahu. Our Big Island adventure has come to a close! We have had a blast here and I can't begin to imagine what fun the next few days will hold! Wait, actually I can. I have it all on my excel spreadsheet! :)
See ya tomorrow!
Leigha
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