Place of Refuge - Traveling the Big Island, Hawaii - Day 3-2/2

        After swimming with wild dolphins on January 2, my husband and I had lunch at Da Poke Shack, Hawaiian poke restaurant. Then, we went to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. This place is also called Place of Refuge.  Official Website of Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park reads, "imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death.  Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Pu'uhonua, a place of refuge.  The Pu'uhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle.  No harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the place of refuge".
        When we arrived there at 4 p.m., it was not crowded at all. The car entrance fee was $5.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

       It's a self-guided tour. We got a map of Place of Refuge and looked around the park.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

       At the park, I found this tree of noni, which I had never seen before. I've heard a lot about noni that noni tastes awful but is very good for health.

Great Morinda / Noni

       Noni tree was brought to Hawai'i by the early Polynesian settlers and was used as a medicinal tonic to treat digestive problems.

Noni Fruit

        There were some reconstructed ancient structures, and we learned about ancient Hawaiian culture.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park



Temple Model

Konane / Traditional Hawaiian Game

Halau

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

Hale o Keawe

Two Ki'i Guardians of the Place of Refuge

Hale o Keawe



Keone'ele

      The Place of Refuge is one of the must see spots on the Big Island. :)  After leaving this park, we went back to our hotel, Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay, to have dinner at Rays on the Bay.


       I uploaded my YouTube video which I recorded that day.

Place of Refuge

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Hwy 160 & Hale O Keawe Rd
Honaunau, HI 96726



       My entries related to our traveling on the Big Island can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Hawaii%20%28the%20Big%20Island%29



     Today's Vocabulary
tonic : noun : 【tɑ́nik】 《医》気付け薬｛きつけぐすり｝、強壮剤