Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - Coffee Beans and Macadamia Nuts

 

 Tuesday, February 6, 2024

 

Aloha and welcome to the absolutely beautiful islands of Hawaii.  After six straight sea days, people were ready to touch terra firma!  We arrived this morning at Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, land of the active volcano, Mauna Loa, which last erupted in late 2022.  Mauna Loa is one of five volcanos that make up the Big Island.  The other two active or recently active volcanoes are Hualalai and Kilauea.  This rich volcanic environment somehow creates the perfect place to grow coffee beans and macadamia nuts (even Spam flavored ones!).   Neither are native to the island but they have found their home here.  When you buy your coffee be sure it says it is 100% Kona coffee.  Some coffees are a blend with only 10% Kona coffee. We bought some Kona Coffee from Surfin' Ass Coffee Co.!

Kona is on the western side of the big island.  It is not a big city, boasting only 22,972 residents.   It is a tender port for us and even the trip into the port area was just beautiful.  You are dropped off right in the middle of town which is set up to accommodate guests with very quaint shops, restaurants, souvenirs galore.   Huge banyan trees make for shady resting spots where you can watch the visitors as well as the locals stop for a bite of lunch.  It is also home to Moku'aikaua Church, the first Christian church built in Hawaii.  It is built out of lava rock.  Kona is also home to the IronMan competition every year!

Kona’s past includes the last residence of their first King.  King Kamehameha.  King Kam was the first King of the kingdom of Hawaii.   Known as Kamehameha the great, he was the first to unite the separate islands together to create what we now call Hawaii.  I cannot understand how he did this mighty feat as he had 30 wives.  18 of whom had 35 children.   How he found any time to go unite things is beyond me!  With all that ancestry, it is hard to believe that there are no living descendants of Kamehameha the Great today.  King Kam passed in 1819.  See below for the Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark.  It is a recreation of where Kamehameha I spent his final days.  

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The famous British explorer, Captain Cook, met his end here in Kona Hawaii also.   Cook was revered by the Hawaiians and King Kam at first, but somewhere somehow things went awry and Cook was killed.   The story goes that because he was so revered that the islanders ate him in order to possess his greatness.   Not sure that this was ever proven but you can look up the history of it.

On a brighter note, today, we and three others from the 2019 World Cruise met up with a another couple that was also on the 2019 trip  They are from the state of Washington and are here for the month of February playing golf and enjoying the sights.   The seven of us had a great lunch at the Kona Inn and got caught up on things.  It was good to see them.  

Vialula and I did not have a scheduled excursion today so we got to enjoy being Joe Tourists today.   We walked thru most of the town and I did my best to find the perfect Hawaiian shirt which of course meant a stop at a Hilo Hattie store.   Hilo Hattie was a Hawaiian singer, hula dancer and actress and comedian.  I don’t know how the name became the store, but it has been the quintessential name associated with Hawaiian shirts and wear since 1963.  Of course, I found my shirt but not in the right size, unless I wear a medium or a 3XL, so I am still looking!  My local brew of the day was a lager called Longboard and also a Humpback Island Lager.

Vi and myself both said that Kona would be a place come back to.  The big island has a lot to offer and we are just seeing Kona and then Hilo tomorrow.    More on that in the next post.  Thanks for coming along with us.  We are missing everyone but having a great time doing it.  On to Hilo tomorrow. Mahalo and Aloha!

LeRoy and Vi