Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The first thing that struck me in Hawaii, was how there were so many places starting with the letter K.

I couldn't stop asking why this was so until I was informed that the Hawaiian language has one of the the shortest alphabets in the world, (10 consonants and 5 vowels), so some letters are greatly overused.

Of the islands we visited in Hawaii on a recent cruise, my favorite by far is Kailua-Kona. It is the second-largest settlement after Hilo.

It is also known as  the Garden Island and I got to see why this is so! It is absolutely beautiful and has such variety. 

(It is also where I learned the joys of ziplining Joan, my views: Zipping away)

It is an extremely mountainous island, rainy and so lush that one section is said to be among the wettest places in the world.

 That is on Mount Waialeale.

Waimea Canyon

Inside this grotto was once a favorite place to hold weddings.

Kona's mainstay was once sugar, but when that became too expensive to produce, they got rid of it.

 Today their main income comes from tourism followed by coffee. 

They also have so many trees that they use mainly biogas for electricity. Solar power is also widely used.

Waimea multicolored Canyon

In my book, it's far more diverse than the Grand Canyon!

Opaeekaa water falls

                                                                    A Hawaiian wedding song

Can you believe that everywhere you go on the island you see these country fowls! They have no predators. Not even humans, as Hawaiians say they are too tough to eat. I grew up on them and loved them.🤤

                                                Getting a tattoo. It is said that it's the Polynesians who started the craze.

Kailua-Kona is really a beautiful little island so it is not unexpected that it attracts millions of tourists. 

Itis especially popular among retirees and honeymooners as it has no nightlife, no nightclubs, no go go establishments and most importantly, crime is almost non-existent.

What it has though is a lot of churches  and places of worship of every religion. I never saw any mosques but did see a few Buddhist temples.

 Unfortunately, native Hawaiians are now finding it difficult to buy homes there, as rich retirees from the mainland and people who work from home have relocated there and driven up the price of real estate.

 So an ordinary home now costs in excess of one and a half million dollars.

Another small island losing its people.