Painted ChurchSaint Benedict’s Catholic Church, built between 1899-1902 overlooks Kealakekua Bay.
Inside the painted churchThe interior of the church was painted with the stories of the bible as a means to teach those that could not read.
Coffee ShackReason #1 to stop at the coffee shack is for coffee! Kona coffee is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Cultivated on the slopes of the Big Island and with the glorious weather and good soil, the result is delicious coffee.Reason#2 to visit this particular coffee shacks is the fantastic view of Kona coast, overlooking Kealakekua Bay, where the famous explorer Captain James Cook first arrived in Hawaii.
Puuhonua O HonaunauPuuhonua O Honaunau is the most famous and best preserved of Hawaii’s ancient places of refuge. The historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, if you broke an ancient law you could avoid death by getting to this place of refuge.
Ki'iWooden totems (known as Ki’i) still protect the area that once served as a Hawaiian sanctuary for lawbreakers seeking refuge.
Great WallA section of the ‘great wall’, 12 feet tall, 18 feet wide and over 950 feet long. It was constructed with dry-set masonry over 400 years ago.
Waipi'o Waipi’o is known as the “Valley of the Kings”. Trekking through the valley on horseback on the best way to enjoy the lush paradise.
Waipi'o Valley Lookout
Halema'uma'uKilauea caldera is a very large crater formed by collapse (about 2 miles wide and more than 3 miles long) the main crater pit is Halema’uma’u
Sulphur banks
Lava tubesBig Island has some of the longest and deepest lava tubes in the world and ones that you can walk through (Kazmura system)
Lava moldsThe molds of trees where molten lava engulfed and hardened everything in its path including the trees.
Pu‘u Loa PetroglyphsThe largest petroglyph field in the State of Hawaii.more then 23,000 petroglyph images and about 500 years old!
PukaThe vast majority of the petroglyphs are small dot-like holes that are approximately two inches in diameter. Hawaiian historians explain that these holes are called puka. When a child was born a puka would be carved in the lava stone. The new baby’s umbilical cord would be placed in the puka to wish blessings upon the child for a long and prosperous life.
LifeA reminder that although lava will destroy everything in its path, life will return.
Lava roadThe road in the Volcano National Park descends form the crater rim to the coast for 30 km with an elevation change of about 3, 700 ft.
Holei Sea ArchPresently, the sea arch is about 90ft. (27.4 m) high, created by the sea about 100 years ago.
"Lavasplosion"
Lava SpillsThe phenomenal volumes of steam when the lava meets the ocean.
The #2 reason to visit this particular coffee shacks is the the fantastic view of Kona coast, overlooking Kealakekua Bay, where the famous explorer Captain James Cook first arrived in Hawaii.