On the dry Dry Side of Kona

On the dry Dry Side of Kona, Big Island

To hedge our bets on the weather and to be closer to airport, we reserved a two night stay on the drier Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Our lodging was 2100 ft. upland, above a coffee and mango plantation, with great sunset views.

Breakfast gazebo at the Mango Sunset B & B

We re-visited a special site called Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge) National Historical Park. It was an ancient sacred locale normally reserved for royalty, and also provided sanctuary (if they could reach it alive) for those who had broken cultural taboos (kapu). 

 Entrance artwork at the Place of Refuge

          Re-creations of historical structures seen over konane table (game of checkers) 

                                                        

Carved statuary at Pu'uhonua Historical Park, 

adjacent to wonderful snorkeling area of "Two Step"

  Zipper Spider and web on colorful bougainvillea bush

                                                      St. Benedict's "Painted Church"

            with the interior lovingly hand-painted by the parish priest long ago

Original Home of "Donkey Balls" (chocolate covered macadamia nuts)

in various flavors ~ dirty balls, jitter balls, hairy balls, 

Er...you kinda have to have been there to appreciate the humor

Presidential Campaign Headquarters???

Windless warm afternoon on Hapuna Beach State Park 

       Next Stop--- Napili Point on the northwest shore of Maui.