Volcano, Big Island (Hawai'i Island), February 20, 2022

We drove from Volcano down to Hilo and then along the Hāmākua Coast.  Our target was the Waipi'o Valley, the "Valley of Kings".  Driving through Hilo we stopped by the statue of King Kamehameha.  The first king to unify all the Hawai'ian Islands.  This statue, which is a replica of the one in front of the State Supreme Court in Honolulu, was originally placed in Princeville on Kaua'i.  Kamehameha, after militarily defeating the other islands, with the help of western weapons and western mercenaries firing canoe mounted cannons, set his sights on Kaua'i.  Two times he sent his warriors to Kaua'i and through good luck and skillful strategy King Kaumuali'i was able to avoid the fate of the other islands and the ritual sacrifices of their kings.  Knowing that Kamehameha's desire for conquest was not sated, Kaumuali'i offered Kaua'i to the Tzar of Russia.  Finally, an American merchant, Nathan Winship, negotiated a deal in which Kamehameha would leave Kaua'i alone (and not bash in Kaumuali'i's head) until his death at which time the Island would then be incorporated into the Kingdom of Hawai'i.  Because of this, Kaua'i is very proud that it was not defeated by Kamahemahe and wanted nothing to do with this statue.  It was given to the Big Island.  Such is the way of politics.

Our first stop along the road was to pick up some pastries at Mr. Eds bakery in interesting, and rainbow painted, town of Honomu.  

From there to the 'Akaka Falls State Park

A little further down the coast we came to the Laupāhoehoe Peninsula.  A place of extraordinary beauty and a tragic tsunami history. 

 

Our final destination was the sacred Waipi'o Valley.  This magnificent valley with the high cliffs and black sand beach is where the future King Kamehameha spent the first five years of his life where his mother hid him from rivals.  While only a few hundred people live in this valley now, at one time perhaps as many as 10,000 people lived here.