Norm and Barb Aune: Day 4

Day 3 and 4

It was a bit drippy (just mist) on Saturday so we chose to stay in town to visit the site of the home and temple of King Kamehameha the Great. (1812 ) and Hulihe’s Palace (1838) both located in the center of Kona. It was a day of learning more of the history and the culture of the Hawaiians. For dinner Barb and I grilled the tuna, then sat under the palms on the beach next to the condo until around 9:30. There was no wind, moderate surf, and temps in the mid 70’s.

Volcanic landscape dominates east side

bay north of kona

Sunday morning shone bright and we decided to drive north, as far as the Jeep could carry us. Barb and I refuse to admit we are near the end of the road but today we experienced that feeling twice. One we expected. The other was a surprise and major disappointment. Kapa’au is a small town on the northern edge of east Hawaii. The lava dominated landscape turns to green grass, banana trees, lush vegetation, and deep valleys of running streams. The major road stops abruptly just past the town at a vista of the northern coast. Maui was visible to the north.

a puddle is no problem

off road to see heritage sites - actually a county road

these ponds are getting larger

now it is a river, how deep

water sprays over our heads

Just east of Kap’au we took a side road to find two ancient heritage sites. The (debatable) birth place of Kamehameha is said to be down a dirt road just off the main road near Kapa’au. Also on the road is the site of a structure dedicated to human sacrifice. Both are stone structures and guide books suggest 4WD to visit them. The advice was correct. Our friends, the Turners, had visited the sites last summer and told us what to do. Our challenge however, and we did not know this until we were well into the trip, was that heavy rain squalls had hit the area the night before and the dirt road was full of puddles, no ponds would be a better description. There were no other vehicles on the road, there were a few tracks ahead, but the ponds got bigger and deeper. Finally, after loosing sight twice due to muddy water splashing up on the windshield, we got to our destination. Then as we continued to progress out of the site, up a hill and seemingly out of the pools, the road was blocked and we had to return the way we came in, high water in all. In retrospect it was a dumb move. We enjoy the back roads but in this case we were in a very remote country and had no business taking on those conditions. Barb, the Everready tourist, urged me on, but later admitted that she was quite afraid during the most challenging part of the drive.