Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Aloha➢

My family and I took a cruise around the Hawaiian islands in 2019. We embarked in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Prior to embarkation, we spent a few days on land and explored Oahu. Using Hilton’s Hawaiian Village as our base, we enjoyed visiting many interesting sites before boarding the Pride of America. We spent a week on board cruising the Hawaiian Islands. Our first port of call was Kahului Harbor on Maui.

After Maui, we sailed to the big island of Hawaiʻi. On the big island we had two ports; the first was Hilo. Next, we sailed around to Kona on the other side of the island. While in port, we visited St. Benedicts, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Royal Kona Coffee, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Huliheʻe Palace, & Mokuaikaua Church.

The Huliheʻe Palace in historic Kailua-Kona was the former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty. It was originally built of lava rock in 1838 and was the primary residence of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani. The princess preferred sleeping in a grass hut on the grounds to sleeping in the palace.

The palace was eventually sold to King Kalākaua who had the exterior plastered over in 1885 to appear more refined. He furnished it in the same lavish Victorian style he’d used for the Iolani Palace on Oahu.

The Daughters of Hawaii restored the palace in 1927 and turned it into a museum. It is right across the street from the historic Mokuaikaua Church.

Kona Posts➢

• St. Benedicts
• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
• Royal Kona Coffee
• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
• Huliheʻe Palace
• Mokuaikaua Church

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Location: 75-5718 Alii Dr, Kailua, Hawaii
Designation: National Register of Historic Places
Date designated/established: 1973
Date of my visit: April 17, 2019