2016-2017

By Footwarrior
Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area is a large park and sandy beach on the Big
Island of Hawaii. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is also located adjacent to the beach. Hāpuna
(literally, “spring” or “pool” in Hawaiian) is popular with residents and visitors. This is one of a few other
white sand beaches on the west coast of the Big Island. The few others include Kua Bay (Manini’owali
Beach), Kauna’oa Bay, known as Mauna Kea Beach, and Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park. It was named
the Best Beach in America by Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, known
as “Dr Beach”, in 1993.
By Alan L
Mauna Kea (traditional Hawaiian name:
Mauna a Wākea) is a dormant volcano on the
island of Hawaii. Standing 4,205 m (13,796 ft)
above sea level, its peak is the highest point
in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Further, because
the Hawaiian Islands slope so deep into the
sea, Mauna Kea is exceptionally prominent,
with a dry prominence calculated at 9,330 m
(30,610 ft). It is cupped by the deep Hawaiian
Trough, which has led some
authorities to call it the tallest (as opposed to
highest) mountain in the world, as measured
from base to peak.
Ancient Hawaiians living on the slopes of
Mauna Kea relied on its extensive forests for
food, and quarried the dense volcano-glacial
basalts on its flanks for tool production.
With its high altitude, dry environment, and
stable airflow, Mauna Kea’s summit is one of
the best sites in the world for astronomical
observation, and one of the most
controversial.
In Hawaiian mythology, Poli’ahu is one of the four goddesses
of snow, all enemies of Pele. She was thought to reside on
Mauna Kea, which if measured from the seafloor is the world's
tallest mountain.
The summits of the five volcanoes of Hawaii are
revered as sacred mountains; and Mauna Kea’s
summit, the highest, is the most sacred. For this
reason, a kapu (ancient Hawaiian law) restricted
visitor rights to high-ranking tribal chiefs.
Hawaiians associated elements of their
natural environment with particular deities. In
Hawaiian mythology, the sky father Wākea
marries the earth mother Papa, giving birth to
the Hawaiian Islands. In many of these
genealogical myths, Mauna Kea is portrayed as
the pair’s first-born son. The summit of Mauna
Kea was seen as the “region of the gods”, a place
where benevolent spirits reside. Poli’ahu, deity
of snow, also resides there. In Hawaiian, Mauna
Kea means “white mountain”, a reference to its
summit, which is usually snow-capped in winter.
The mountain’s name has been shortened from
it’s original, traditional Hawaiian name: Mauna a
Wākea (“Mountain of Wākea”).
Kaloko-Honokōhau National
Historical Park is a United States National Historical
Park located in the Kona District on the
Big island of Hawai’i in the U.S. state of Hawai’i.
Kaloko (meaning “the pond” in the Hawaiian
language) is a site of fishponds used in ancient
Hawaii is on the North end of the park.
Honokōhau means “bay drawing dew” and
refers to the ancient settlement on the south
part of the park.
Kua Bay - Manini’owali Beach
Manini’owali Beach at Kua Bay, part of Kekaha
Kai State Park, is another of the very pretty
Hawaii Big Island beaches, with fine white
sand that slopes gently to the beautiful clear
turquoise water. The swimming here is
awesome when the ocean is calm, and there
can be some decent snorkeling along the
rocky outcroppings at either end of the beach.
© 2012 BigIslandVacation.com
By W Nowicki