Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
solutions are being sought, but the bug is causing high anxiety among Kona coffee
farmers.
Kealakekua Bay
At the time of writing, a moratorium was in place on watercraft
entering Kealakekua Bay. Pods of spinner dolphins enjoy sleeping in these waters,
but locals and biologists alike have claimed the presence of hordes of snorkelers
disturb their sleep.
Thirty Meter Telescope, Mauna Kea
Hawai'i's most sacred spot will be home to
the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Slated for completion by 2018, the community
is divided over this project, which will be bigger than all current observatories com-
bined. See
http://kahea.org/issues/sacred-summits
for info on opposition to the
TMT, and
www.tmt.org
for the argument in favor of the facility.
Dolphin encounters
Whether in captivity or the wild, human-dolphin encounters
carry potential risks for the animals. Wild dolphins may become too tired to feed,
while captive 'show' dolphins can suffer from stress, infections and damaged
dorsal fins.
Solar power
In 2010 the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) sought to ban new
solar-power systems, saying the excess energy they feed to the electric grid could
be destabilizing. While ultimately rejected by state regulators, HECO continues to
push back against smaller, distributed solar generation. The debate rages.
Sights
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
FARM
MAP
(
323-3222;
www.konahistorical.org
; 82-6199 Mamalahoa Hwy; adult/child 5-12yr $20/5;
10am-2pm Mon-Thu, tours every hour)
Many coffee-farm tours are perfunctory
15-minute affairs. This tour, run by the Kona Historical Society, an affiliate of the Smith-
sonian Institute, stands in stark, deep and comprehensive contrast. More than an explora-
tion of how coffee is harvested (although you will learn the above), this is an evocative
look at rural Japanese-immigrant life. The tour takes place on the Society's 5.5-acre,
working coffee farm.
This was once the family farm of the Uchida clan, who lived here till 1994, but the
farm has been returned to the era of the 1920s-40s. Several docents grew up on similar
farms, so they speak from experience as they present the orchards, processing mill, dry-
ing roofs and main house. On the tours (which take an hour or so) you'll learn how to
