Redefining Hilo Hattie

Hilo

On Hilo side, we visited the Hilo Farmer's Market. Rain poured down for ten minutes. In Hilo, the trees grow to very large sizes.

A long and winding road

Saddle Road runs in the "saddle"-shaped valley between the largest volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. It was initially built for military purposes to connect the two sides of the Big Island. Traveling the road from Kona side to Hilo side took us through lava fields, young and old; rolling hills; and tropical rainforests.

Some claim that the road is haunted. In our vehicle, the only indications of this were the apparition trucks that appeared and disappeared from the rearview mirrors, our desire for better road signage by the addition of "Specter X-ing" signs, and most spookily, an Enya soundtrack.

We followed the yellow sand road

A hike along golden-red roads at South Point brought us to Green Sand Beach, a bay beached by green and black sand.

South Point

South Point is the southernmost spot of Hawaii, and therefore, the southernmost spot of the entire USA. From the road in, we spotted a death ray generator, western wind-swept trees, the turbines of Kamoa Wind Farm, and peculiar lawn ornaments.

Only the kids went on this trip to Place of Refuge and South Point. Mom and Dad (Jo-Ann and Andy) have been to both sites in previous Big Island visits, so spent their day exploring Hilo. Personally, I think that Andy is just too scared to revisit South Point -- ooo, wind mills... scary!

Tamas's tongue and tiki tush

More photos from Place of Refuge.

As a sidenote, Tamas purchased a tiki during our Hawi town shopping trip. There will be no need for him to leave the loving in Hawaii.

Place of Refuge

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is a wondefully serene historic site. Translated it is a Place of Refuge, with perfectly manicured grounds including the Great Wall -- a 1,000 foot long, 10 foot high continuous wall built in the 1500s which protects the palace grounds. Wood carvings (reproductions) guard these sacred grounds.

Those who broke ancient Hawaii's system of kapu could flee to the sanctuary of the Place of Refuge. If they reached the grounds -- by evading the surrounding land owned and lived upon by chiefs, often by swimming -- they could be absolved of their crimes and released.

Christmas Day and "we're in Hawaii!"

The big day was celebrated with brunch together -- lovingly-prepared coconut french toast with grilled pineapple and tropical fruit salsa, a Boney M Christmas dance party, time on the beach -- where we spotted the big guy and Mrs. Claus, and dinner together -- beef steaks and steamed vegetables coming off the grill, and garlic-y garlic toast coming from underneath the broiler.

Mele Kalikimaka

From the Hawaii Five to you, your family, and your friends, we send you wishes for a merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Now, we're off to the beach!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was celebrated with dinner at the Canoe House at the Mauna Lani Resort in Kalahuipua'a. We enjoyed drinks, fine dining, and wonderful friendly service from our server, Virginia (who we wanted to adopt as our tutu).

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Fresh rough-skinned green things sold by the side of the road

Wonderful avocados sold on a customer honour basis.

A separate tub for one?

Initially this reflection pool was mistaken as the private soaking tub for the fire-tressed goddess (Jo-Ann) visiting Mamalahoa.

It was amazing and very civilized

"Another name of lomi lomi massage is 'loving hands' massage, involving deep but gentle strokes that nurture the body and allow the receiver to relax and simply be."

After yesterday, the "simply being" of Hawaiian lomi lomi massage is feeling like clay in the hands of a master potter. Warm and gentle at times; at other times, strong with pressure and energy. The masseuse left me as a pile of mush that needed to be scraped off the table and back to the world.

At Mamalahoa Hot Tubs & Massage, we soaked away tense muscles in a wonderful hot tub secluded in their private garden santuary. Here, the only interruptions were a few birds wandering the garden paths and a breadfruit that dropped from a tree. The knots, muscle tightness, and poor circulation were then kneaded from our bodies on the massage tables.

Painted Church

St. Benedict Catholic Church, in Honaunau, South Kona, was decorated between 1899 and 1904 by Father John Velge, a Belgian priest. It is known simply as "Painted Church." It was built to communicate Bible stories to non-English-speaking Hawaiians.