Saturday August 26, 2023
Even though it’s raining when we get up, Becka and I have an all-day outing planned. We are going to South Point today. We start out in a heavy rain, but as we head south, the sky clears and we enjoy a beautiful day.
This portion of Big Island is so unlike the jungles of the Hilo area. It reminds me of eastern Montana or the barren miles of Wyoming.
On the way, we stop at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Place of Refuge, which has a very interesting history, kind of reminding me of the John Colter episode in American history. (If you are not familiar with John Colter running for his life from the Blackfeet Native Americans in 1809, you are encouraged to look it up.) Place of Refuge was the home of ancient Hawaiian chiefs on the Kona Coast of Big Island.
The carved statues, Ki’i, served as boundary markers, sacred guardians, and the embodiment of certain deities.
It is called Place of Refuge because it provided sanctuary to those who broke sacred laws, kapu, punishable by death. To reach this place, the offender must elude pursuers, traversing jungle, crossing lava shores, and swimming an expanse of ocean. If they were able to arrive there alive, they would receive sanctuary and a chance at a new life. It is a beautiful and interesting place to visit.
Trails allow visitors to walk about the grounds outside of the royal sacred grounds which are protected by the Great Wall – 12 feet tall, 18 feet thick and 965 feet long. It can be seen of the far left in this photo.
The Great Wall protects the sacred quarters of the Chieftains, the spiritual leaders of their people. The rock work is quite amazing, using a style of rock work that needs no mortar or mud to hold the rocks in place.
Becka shows me a rainbow eucalyptus tree near Ocean View where we have lunch at Loki Kai Cafe .
I found this name of this little village to be quite amusing, as everyplace on Big Island is an an ocean view except when clouds obscure it. We also stop to admire the largest agave plant I have ever seen.
On to South Point, which is the southern most point of the United states, as well as Hawaii.
The ocean currents on either side of the island chain collide there, creating dramatic waves. White coral and black lava create a most interesting and beautiful beach.
On Becka’s first time there, she went at night with a really dumb friend who did not warn here of the big gaping hole in the lava shore. Falling into this hole, one would be washed out into the ocean, certain death! I am so grateful that she was careful enough where she walked in the dark that she avoided the hole. We sat on the beach by the ocean for some time, just watching the waves.
On our way back to Hilo, we first stop at Whittington Beach, a small park with the remains of a pier and a very interesting tree from the fig family.
Lastly is a visit to Black Sand Beach where the shore is black lava sand rather than rocks and cliffs. We drive through Volcanic National Park, but it is getting too dark to see much on our way back to Becka’s place. What a great fun day!
