Sandy's travels

With Ray driving yesterday (again), we took the Belt Road to Waimea and from there made our way to the Hawaii Botanical Gardens on Hilo side.  With it being the wet side of the island it is a perfect environment for lush greenery, trees and flowers.  Orchids are attached and happily growing there and blooming in abundance.  So many varieties of plants, both native and imported. There are a couple of waterfalls on the property and the walkways take you down to Onondaga Bay for some perfect views of the waves coming in.  The garden is now a non profit Scientific and Educational Institution as well as a Nature preserve and sanctuary.  This was my second trip through and I will go again, you simply cannot see it all in one trip!  They have a website at http://hawaiigarden.com .   Photos follow....

Yesterday as we were heading southward on the Island towards the Kilauea volcano we made two stops, one at the Painted Church and the second at the Place of Refuge.  I thought I'd just show a few of the photos of the interior of this interesting church and a bit of its story.    This church sits high up on a hill and is actually St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church.  It received its name due to  the inspiration of a Belgian priest. Father Jean Berchmans Velghe who served only a few years at the South Kona sanctuary, but long enough to do extraordinary things as an untrained artist working with ordinary house paint. After having the wooden structure moved uphill from an oceanfront site in 1899, reflecting the migration of parishioners, "Father John" set about  decorating its interior  with six main murals reflecting scenes from the Bible and religious life, octagonal columns beribboned in red and white paint with Hawaiian translations of phrases from St. Benedict's medal

And that would be travelling over the Saddle Road, high up between the two old volcanoes, Mauna Kea which means white mountain and Mauna Loa which translates to Long low mountain.  As we drove and reached the military base we could see clouds gathering, like right at road level and sure enough it sprinkled or rained as we made our way closer to Hilo side.  Upon arriving in Hilo the rain let up and we were dry all the time we were there.  We viewed both sides of the market and bought a couple of things.  It was very muggy having rained before we arrived.  Leaving the market (we were very fortunate finding a parking space right beside the venders!). We went looking for a bakery called Lanky's where we were directed to buy Monkey Bread, did that and drove down to the ocean to Queen Liliuokalani garden, which is so beautiful and peaceful and done as a Japanese garden.  We strolled around and took lots of photos, some of which I'll post below.  Finishing our explorations there we vi

Woke this morning early and looked out on greyness and thought I was at home!  But as it turned to daylight, there it was, the palm trees, gently rolling surf and then the sun came cheerfully up over Moana Loa.   Downtown Kona today was a nightmare trying to get through creeping traffic to Palani Road.  One of the reasons was a giant women's march about abortion.  Hundred and hundreds of marchers tying up cross traffic and part of the road closed off.  Eventually I got out of there as I was heading for Costco to get a roast chicken to have for dinner tomorrow night.  Ray and Michelle are arriving tonight on west jet.   I flew out here on Air Canada and my flight got in at 1:30in the afternoon.  Gave me ample time to get car organized, get a few groceries and get in and settled.   West jet on the other hand arrives with passengers at 10:45 and leaves with homeward bound passengers at 11:45!  😳 I bought myself a bunch of anthuriums, sometimes known as Flamingo lilies and sometimes c

After breakfast this morning my chauffeur Josh and I got in the car and drove up the coast northward to Hamakaua Macadamia Nut factory so he could get some more Mac brittle.  I picked up a couple bags myself.  Then we backtracked to Mauna Lani Resort and shopping mall and checked out a very high end shop carrying brass animal sculptures and really lovely paintings.  One of the sculptures I liked was $8,000 so I need to really think about that for awhile! 😳 While we were at Mauna Lani we watched 2 4-D shows, the seats move, you get a spray of mist or two during the show and puffs of air.  I liked it but Josh thought it was awful!  Oh well, everyone doesn't like the same stuff. Leaving there, the wind was blowing pretty hard, so we carried on south to Waikoloa Resort and Tiffany's as Josh had ordered a ring but changed his mind to a different finger so they will try to get one in his size over from Maui for tomorrow so another drive up coast.  Back in the car again, we continued

Yesterday afternoon, Josh and I drove down coast to the State Park called Pu'uhonua, the Place of Refuge.  Imagine yourself as an ancient Hawaiian who has broken  Kapu!  Kapu means breaking  the sacred laws.  These were tough in ancient Hawaii. For instance, you couldn't walk in the royal chief's footsteps, touch his things, or even let your shadow fall on palace grounds. If you did and weren't punished, a volcano might decide to erupt, or a tsunami could erase your village. So everyone joined in to bring violators to justice. Often the penalty was death! You might have one chance: an all-out run and swim for Pu'uhonua, the Place of Refuge, pursued by warriors. And another waited to club you to death near the entrance. But if you made it, a priest would perform a ceremony of absolution, and all was well again.  Cool huh?  It certainly meant only the strong would survive! This historic site was reopened in 1961 and today visitors can walk through imagining it as it w

With Josh as driver I feel like I'm being chauffeured about in regal style.  Yesterday we drove out to Waikoloa Resort where the Queens and Kings shopping centres are.  The only things we bought were, for me, two pairs of crocs and Josh bought a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses as his friend who was here sat on his! 😳 oh Ame, lol. I was surprised there weren't more people about as the parking lot was quite full at both sides of the mall and Resort.  We got lucky and found a spot to park in the shade!  We walked through most of the shops and admired many things.  I totally restrained myself, mainly because I know I will have another female or two to shop with soon.  Guys aren't shoppers, evidenced by the men sitting or standing outside waiting on women!  Kind of funny! Josh had his heart set on a hamburger for lunch and there was almost every kind of food restaurants out there but that!  So we hopped into the car and drove back into town to go to Splashers across from the Marriot

Wikipedia describes a Luau as " A luau (Hawaiian: lūʻau) is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. It may feature food such as poi, Kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia and beer, and entertainment such as traditional Hawaiian music and hula." A pig is baked in an underground oven called an Imu and baked with hot rocks, banana leaves and covered in more leaves and soil to slow cook for hours.  This results in the Kailua pig.  I enjoy a scoop of poi which is a mauve coloured glutinous substance made from taro plant with the Kailua pig.  There are lots of salads and coconut buns and chicken and so on.  You certainly need not go hungry at a Luau. Our entertainment was Hawaiian music during dinner and Hula, fire dancers and other Polynesian performers.  Always fun and entertaining.  Following are some photos from the evenings entertainment and the awesome sunset!