The Big Island of Hawaii - Hawaii with Kids - page 197

much television. Take hot dogs, bottled water, flashlights, and sturdy
shoes, and follow the ranger's instructions on where to view the lava
safely. You might want to make the trip during daylight first so the kids
can see the Technicolor difference in experiencing a lava flow in the
dark.
Discovering Old Hawaii at Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical
Park (p. 195) Protected by a huge rock wall, this sacred Honaunau site
was once a refuge for ancient Hawaiian warriors. Today, you can walk
the consecrated grounds and glimpse a former way of life in a partially
restored 16th-century village, complete with thatched huts, canoes, for-
bidding idols, and a temple that holds the bones of 23 Hawaiian chiefs.
Stargazing from Mauna Kea (p. 201) A jacket, beach mat, and binoc-
ulars are all you need to see every star and planet in this ultra-clean
atmosphere, where the visibility is so keen that 11 nations have set up
telescopes (two of them the biggest in the world) to probe deep space.
Watching for Whales Humpback whales pass through waters off the
Kona coast every December through April. To spot them from shore,
head down to the Keahole National Energy Lab, just south of the Kona
airport, and keep your eyes peeled as you walk the shoreline. To get
here, follow Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Hwy. 19) toward the Keahole
airport; 6 miles outside of town, look for the sign NATURAL ENERGY LAB , and
turn left. Just after the road takes a sharp turn to the right, there's a
small paved parking area with restrooms; a beach trail is on the ocean
side of the lot.
Hanging Out in Waipio Valley Pack a picnic and head for this gor-
geously lush valley that time forgot. Delve deep into the jungle on foot,
comb the black-sand beach, or just laze the day away by a babbling
stream, the tail end of a 1,000-foot waterfall.
Chasing Rainbows at Akaka Falls (p. 202) When the light is right, a per-
fect prism is formed and a rainbow leaps out of this spectacular 442-foot
waterfall, about 11 miles north of Hilo. Take time to roam through the
surrounding rainforest, where you're sure to have close encounters with
exotic birds, aromatic plumeria trees, and shocking red-torch ginger.
century mementos and gorgeous koa furniture. You'll get lots of background and
royal lore on the guided tour. No photography is allowed.
The Palace hosts 12 Hawaiian music and hula concerts a year, each dedi-
cated to a Hawaiian monarch, at 4pm on the last Sunday of the month (except
June and Dec, when the performances are held in conjunction with King
Kamehameha Day and Christmas).
Across the street is Mokuaikaua Church ( & 808/329-1589 ), the oldest
Christian church in Hawaii. It's constructed of lava stones, but its architecture
is New England-style all the way. The 112-foot steeple is still the tallest man-
made structure in Kailua-Kona.