Lance and Cheryl Go to Hawaii, Day 2 (September 23, 2013): Kona-Kailua, Waimea, Honokaa, HI

We woke up super early (Naturally!  Without a child whining in our ear to make him breakfast!) on our first morning in Hawaii.  Since we were up early, we thought it would be a good idea to go for a run and see a little bit of Kona-Kailua along the way and stop for breakfast on the way back.  This was not a serious run, since a.) we were on vacation and b.) we kept stopping to see stuff, but it felt good to run outside (and together!) for a change and it was very peaceful out so early.

Along our route, we not only enjoyed the coastline, but also saw the Mokuaikaua Church (the first church in Hawaii) and the Hulihee Palace.

Lance at Hulihee Palace
(It didn't remind of us of a Disney Princess Palace Either)

Mokuaikaua Church

The Drifter

The Waterman

When we were done running and stretching, the place we wanted to eat breakfast at was just opening.  We both thoroughly enjoyed our acai bowls at Basik.  Then we headed back to our hotel to take a dip in the ocean and the pool, before showering and checking out of the hotel, all before 10am.

Our next stop was at a coffee shop along the highway to get some Kona coffee (which we very quickly became addicted to on this trip - it's SO much better than any other coffee).

After getting our fix, we arrived at the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Thank goodness the government decided to shut down the week AFTER our trip).

This was an interesting place to visit, because it was the site where the ali'i (royal chiefs) of the Kona district resided as well as (separated from the royal grounds by a 10ft tall, 17 ft thick wall) the site of the Pu'uhonua, which was a place of refuge for those who broke a kapu (sacred law) to seek absolution (if they could get there alive - Kapu breakers were chased and their penalty was usually death, unless they could reach a Pu'uhonua, where blood was not allowed to be shed and where they would be absolved).

Hale o Keawe

The site included a reconstruction of the Hale o Keawe temple, which once housed the bones of the ali'i, lending the spiritual power to the Pu'uhonua.  

Ancient Fishing Device

From there, we left for Waimea, which is a town nestled in the middle of Hawaiian ranch land.

A cinder cone on the way to Waimea: Also a place where we noted that NO ONE HAD TO PEE!!

We stopped for lunch at Merriman's.  This was absolutely DELICIOUS!  The restaurant is known for being the original home of Hawaiian regional cuisine, is frequently named "Best Big Island Restaurant", and is locally sourced!  This marks our second poke and our second meal involving raw fish (ahi is SO good in Hawaii).

Next on our agenda was visiting the Waipio Valley Lookout, which is accessible from the pretty little town, Honokaa, which was also near where we were staying the night.

The Waipio Valley is stunning.  It is basically a lush green gorge that cuts through about 6 miles of 2000ft mountains, starting at the ocean.  The mouth to the valley is a remote black sand beach.

These next few pictures are Lance and I "doing the Aunt Helen", where we're recreating the photograph of her from the Waipio Valley Lookout featured on her living room wall.

We enjoyed the view and then traveled back to Honokaa and up into a remote part of the hills leading up to Mauna Kea to check into Waianuhea Inn.

Our first lava tube!  On the Waianuhea Grounds

View of Mauna Kea from Waianuhea

Stray Goat!

After getting an orientation to our new residence for the night (we stayed in the Olu'olu room), we wandered around the gorgeous grounds, meeting a goat who had somehow strayed from his penned up friends, seeing the rooster, and basically just relaxing in one of the most peaceful places on Earth.

At 5, we were treated to wine and pupus (appetizers) in the great room, after which we decided to go into Honokaa, buy some more wine, and then have it with some yummy calzones at Cafe Il Mondo.

When we returned, we soaked in the hot tub, where we enjoyed the contrast with the mountain mist and intermittently viewed the stars while drinking more of our bottle of wine.

Did I mention how awesome Lance is?

More pictures of Day 2 are here.