Hawaii
Kona
"Bound for Hawaii (a hundred and
fifty miles distant), to visit the great volcano and
behold the other notable things which distinguish that
island above the remainder of the group, we sailed from
Honolulu on a certain Saturday afternoon, in the good
schooner Boomerang...
It was compensation for my
sufferings to come unexpectedly upon so beautiful a
scene as met my eye - to step suddenly out of the
sepulchral gloom of the cabin and stand under the strong
light of the moon - in the center, as it were, of a
glittering sea of liquid silver to see the broad sails
straining in the gale, the ship keeled over on her side,
the angry foam hissing past her lee bulwarks, and
sparkling sheets of spray dashing high
over her bows and
raining upon her decks; to brace myself and hang fast to
the first object that presented itself, with hat jammed
down and coattails whipping in the breeze, and feel that
exhilaration that thrills in one's hair and quivers down
his backbone when he knows that every inch of canvas is
drawing and the vessel cleaving through the waves at her
utmost speed." Mark Twain, 1866
Three volcanoes divide the Big Island of Hawaii in
half, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. The town of
Hilo sits on the east side, which is the windward side
of the island. On the west, on the leeward side is the
district of Kona. In the Hawaiian language, kona means
leeward or dry side of the island and so it is in Kona.
There no better place in the world to see before your
own eyes the process that created all the terrestrial
land of our planet. Below Hawaii lies a volcanic hotspot
that steadily pushes upwards molten rock.
This magma
erupts from the three volcanoes and flows out as lava.
This process formed all of the Hawaiian Islands. Kona is
the home of the world-famous Ironman World Championship
Triathlon held each year in October. And the Kealakekua
Bay State Historical Park marks the place where Captain
James Cook was killed in 1779.
For the traveller this is a destination full
of fun and sun, adventure, and stupendous
geography. The climate is so diverse that it is
hard not to find a place you will not fall in
love with. You must put the Big Island of Hawaii
on your list.
Hawaii Video