After Uniting the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha the Great moved
the capital of his kingdom to Kailua-Kona.
He rebuilt the Ahu`ena Heiau as his personal temple to Lono, the
god of peace and prosperity. Help for the King and his subjects
was invoked by rituals and food offerings. Ahu`ena was not used
for human sacrifice.
Hulihe'e
Palace
Hulihe'e Palace was built by the second Governor of the Island of
Hawai'i, John Adams Kuakini. Construction of the home was completed
in 1838, a year after the completion of Moku'aikaua Church, the
first stone church on the Island of Hawai'i. The Palace was built
by foreign seamen, of native lava rock, coral lime mortar, koa and
'ohi'a timbers. It was originally paneled in koa. It has two floors
and six rooms: entry hall, parlor, dining room, on the second floor
there is a sitting room and two second floor bedrooms. The building
is approximately 60 feet long by 30 feet wide. The basement measures
40 feet long by 30 feet wide, excluding two cisterns. The walls
are 3 feet thick. Hulihe'e was the principal residence of Governor
Kuakini. After his death in 1844, the Palace passed to his adopted
son, William Pitt Leleiohoku. Leleiohoku died a few months later,
leavi! ng Hulihe'e to his wife, Princess Ruth 'Luka 'Ke'elikolani.
While Princess Ruth owned the Palace, Hulihe'e was a favorite retreat
of the royal families. When Princess Ruth passed away in 1883 leaving
no surviving heirs, the property passed on to her cousin, Princess
Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Princess Bernice died the following year
and the home was purchased by King David Kalakaua and Queen Kapi'olani.
During the time of King Kalakaua the Palace was extensively remodeled.
The lanai’s were widened. The exterior was stuccoed and the interior
plastered. Decorative ceilings, crown moldings, gold leaf picture
moldings, crystal chandeliers and redwood pillars were added. On
the death of Queen Kapi'olani in 1899, the Palace then passed to
their adopted sons, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole and Prince
David Kawananakoa. In 1914 the property was sold and its contents
were put up for auction In 1925, Hulihe'e was purchased by the Territory
of Hawai'i to be operated as a museum by the D! aughters of Hawai'i.
About this time, the Inter-Island Steam Navigatio n Company began
to formulate plans for an oceanfront hotel in Kailua-Kona. They
decided that the Hulihe'e grounds was the most desirable location
in Kailua-Kona and at once began to pressure the Daughters to relinquish
Hulihe'e. The ladies held firm and today the museum houses a collection
of ancient Hawaiian artifacts and personal memorabilia of Hawaiian
royalty. Most of the furnishings were originally in the Palace during
the Monarchy. Hulihe'e Palace was placed on the National Register
of Historic Sites in 1973.
Directly across from the Huliees Palace you will see Historic Moku'aikaua
Church. Large thatched roofed churches were constructed on the site
in 1820 and 1825. The present stone structure was started in 1835
and completed in 1837. All of the interior posts and beam are of
'ohi'a wood, the pews, pulpit and interior paneling is koa wood.
The church walls are of lava rock cemented together by mortar made
by mixing sand and lime. The lime came from burnt and crushed coral.
Islanders gathered the coral from the sea. The church is 120 feet
in length and 48 feet wide while the steeple is 112 feet tall. Moku'aikaua
Church and Hulihe'e Palace were both constructed by foreign seamen
visiting the islands. The Governor of the Island of Hawai'i, John
Adams Kuakini was responsible for construction of both buildings.
Originally both buildings were similar in appearance. O! ver the
ensuing years, the Palace was extensively remodeled -- but the Church
today retains its original appearance -- a look that it once shared
with Hulihe'e Palace.
The Historical Landmark, Kona Inn was built in 1928 by the Inter-Island
Steam Navigation Company and during its heyday had 20 rooms booked
solid for steamer passengers. With its saltwater swimming pool,
tennis courts and cocktail lounge, it offered wealthy Kona residents
the amenities of a country club. Responsible for the start of commercial
tourism in the Kailua Kona area, the Kona Inn was built by Charles
Dickey, an architect who created many of the state's impressive
buildings. There was no-county water in Kailua until 1953 so the
Kona Inn acquired a water system from an abandoned sugar mill. It
piped water to the hotel and manager's quarters. The Kona Inn had
its last overnight guest in 1976. Today, it is home to the sprawling
Kona Inn Shopping Village and Kona Inn Restaurant. In 1998, the
Kona Inn celebrated its 70th year as a historical landmark to all
the visi! tors and residents on the beautiful Kona Coast.
Magic Sands, the sand from this beautiful sandy beach dissappears
occasionally in big storms but always returns thus the name of the
beach "magic sands.
Kahaluu
Beach Park
Kahaluu is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island.
Fed by a fresh water spring, up to 10 million gallons per day.
These waters are almost always calm, with colorful corals, rock
formations, and 100+ species of fish. The captain will maneuver
the boat right up close to the reef where the Menehuene built
the break water jetti that now protects the park.
Menehune
are said to be about two feet high, although some are only six
inches high and capable of fitting in the palm of someone's hand.
The creatures are usually naked, but their long straight hair
falls to their knees to keep them warm and discreet. Each menehune
has a distinct personality and appearance; no two are identical.
Furthermore, their spirits are always changing; one could be malicious
and dangerous one day, and harmless the next. Nonetheless, they
are cunning creatures, and th! erefore should be avoided, unless
a special favor is absolutely needed of them. The mythology of
the Menehune is as ancient as the history of Polynesia. When the
first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, they found dams, fish-ponds,
and even Heiaus (temples), all presumably built by the Menehune
who were already inhabiting the caves in the islands. Some even
say that the great god Maui himself, was one of the tiny creatures.
One can request the expertise of the Menehune builders and craftsmen
The menehune will be especially congenial if you can cite menhune
lineage. In ancient times, Hawaiian men would sometimes marry
menehune women, noted for their beauty. With your proper ancestory,
the menehune act like benevolent godparents. Many projects, such
as the preparation of a wedding feast, have been completed in
a single night by the superstrong menehune,while all humans slept.
The little gods enjoy dancing, singing, and archery. To reverse
the feelings in an angry person, the mene! hune sometimes use
magic arrows to pierce the heart of angry people to ignite feelings
of love instead. Menehune also enjoy cliff diving, so if you hear
splashes in the night in Hawaii, it is possibly a Menehune diving
into the ocean. If you search carefully and avoid being seen,
you might catch a glimpse of the little gods.
Keauhou
Bay
Keopuolani, wife of Kamehameha I, traveled by canoe from Kohola
to Keauhou Bay to give birth to Kauikeaouli, her second son. Kauikeaouli
was delivered stillborn on March 17, 1814. But, he was revived when
Kamalo'ihi placed him in Ka'opa Spring at the edge of the bay. Kauikeaouli,
Kamehameha III, 1825 - 1854 was the longest in the history of the
Kingdom. While a minor, his kingdom knew the firm regency of Ka'ahumanu,
briefly succeed by is half sister Kina'u. When he assumed power
in 1833 the Kingdom was beset with problems caused by immigration
and foreign influence. During his reign the Kingdom of Hawai'i achieved
world-wide dipolmatic recognition, a constitution was developed,
the tax system reformed and the legal basis for land ownership was
established. View the one mile long Holuo (stone Slide) and battle
fields above Keauhou Bay.
