Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park … that preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puʻuhonua. The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the puʻuhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs. – Wikipedia
My visit here was by sheer chance. I had just happened to be driving down this road when the sign came out and slapped me upside the peripheral vision. Thanks again to my Mountain Time zone insistence, I was here at 7am local time, even before the Ranger who would have normally accepted my $5 entry fee. I drove in, parked, and strolled the park, pondering the life of native Hawaiian’s hundreds of years ago… until I was abruptly yanked from the daydream thanks to the ringing of my cell phone (hi Mom!).
Hey VT
Good stuff as usual!
Reading the associated link on planning the HI trip from August, you mentioned car camping. Wondering if/how that’s working and the possibilities of ‘cardocking’?
Also, as per your usual great info on finances, I hope a cost of trip analysis might be in order at some point when you get back and caught up.
Thanks and cheers!
I have only spent a few nights in the car, and while it “works”, it has not been comfortable at all. Honestly, there are very few camping areas on the Big Island, and finding a place to boondock is extremely tough as there simply are not many roads either. So, I used http://www.couchsurfing.com to get a few free nights on a local’s couch for a few days both at the beginning and end of my time here. I spent a few nights at the campground at Volcano’s National Park ($10 per night), then a few nights in Hostels ($22-25 per night for a bunk in a dorm) since the local beach camping cost $20 per night for non-residents anyway… I figured I may as well sleep comfortable if I’m dropping $20 and it eliminated the stress of security. Everyone I have talked too out here has concerns about camping at the beaches. Too many bad people doing bad things they say, so the Hostel’s fit nicely. Total, I’ve spent $65 on room-and-board, so it isn’t much for those few nights. I did boondock 2 nights, but did not sleep well for either. I’m just too exposed in this little car with no means to defend myself (Hawaii state laws did not allow me to bring my gun on this trip).
Yes, I will certainly have a cost break down when I am done.