KONA drive time "place of refuge" to Haapuna

[MOMofONE]

Hoping to drive to Puuhonua 'O Honaunau from Rental Car pickup - tour there a few hours, then drive from there to beach area north of Kona.
Did not see these drive times listed on board or any web site I visited.
Need to get rental returned in time for tender back to ship - can anyone help? is it doable with enough beach time to be worth the trip?
Can you recommend place to grab sandwiches to take to the beach?
Much Mahalo!
Tina

[spleen93]

Airport to Pu'uohonua o Honaunau is probably about 45 minutes to an hour or so ... though Emi will probably have more up to date times since traffic seems to have gotten worse since the last time that I've been there. With no traffic, it's probably more like 30-45 minutes.

Spleen

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[SweetEmi]

I'm going to the City of Refuge for an Easter picnic tomorrow, so I'll try to remember to time it. But it will be a Sunday so the traffic situation will be MUCH different than a weekday. The traffic has gotten very, very bad around here during peak times.

So...lets say it is at least an hour and a half from the airport to City of Refuge, another hour and a half back to area of the airport, then to Hapuna it is probably half an hour, back from Hapuna to the airport half an hour. That all totals 4 hours of drive time. (Gestimate)

I don't know what your port time is, so I'm not sure if you have the time or not.

As for "sandwiches" It depends on where you want to pick them up. On your way from Honaunau there is a place called Super Js where you can get the most wonderful lau lau....Yummmm
not a sandwich, but much better in my opinion.

In Keauhou (also on your way back before Kona) you can go down the hill and to the shopping center. There is a place there called Daylight Donuts that have really good Sputniks. Also, Yummmmm....Also not exactly a sandwich but a little closer to one...the KTA right "next" to it has a deli with lots of good food.

Let me know if you really want Sandwiches and I'll tell you where those are.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

OK, I'm just going to stop giving drive time estimates on Kona - traffic has apparently gotten so bad over there that it's taking a ridiculous amount of time to get to places and I can't estimate things any more. An hour and a half!??? Wow.

Spleen

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[MOMofONE]

Thank you Spleen & Emi!

We will be there on a Sunday actually and since we tender, your guestimate does not leave much time to see anything but bumper stickers! (port time reads 7AM - 6PM)

I think we will consider canceling our rental car in Kona and doing an NCL excursion!

Emi - have you ever attended the Cultural Festival at the City of Refuge? It is the same day we are in port. (more traffic!?)

Was hoping to do this and then a little swim/snorkel in Kawahaiwae Bay area but appears by time we get rental, and allow time to return it and catch tender back, we only really have 6 hours most of port time!

Tina

[SweetEmi]

Tina: If it is the festival I'm thinking of, I haven't actually gone but have been invited to go and help and I hear it is reallllly, realllly cool. (I really have to do that sometime...what is the date?) Everyone at one point gets into the water to do what they call a hukilau...I hear what they do is all get out there and hit the water to scare the fish into the nets. Something that they have always done, a community effort.

What I'm wondering is...I know Hapuna Beach is a really nice beach with white sand and all (something that is a real rarity on the Big Island) but can't you go to a beach on that side and save some time? My ohana "adopted family" goes to the beach there by the City of Refuge. (Which is where we were supposed to go today but apparently it is raining - so our party has been moved to someone's house). I don't swim, but I'm sure there is swimming. The ohana usually sits and talks story at the picnic benches and some go fishing.

Oh....I asked the "expert" Annette how long it takes to drive there from here (and we are on the upper road above the airport, similar distance) and she said an hour and 15 minutes or an hour and a half depending on traffic. So...Spleen...You really have to come over and see for yourself! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]


Aloha!
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

Hukilau - watch "Blue Hawaii" with Elvis Presley - I think they're doing their hukilau in Hanauma Bay! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Just a point of clarification, Emi - an adopted family is your hanai family. People will talk about their hanai mom, their hanai sister. Just thought you might want to know ... (grin)

Spleen

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[SweetEmi]

Spleen: Thanks...but this adopted family can be my Ohana, can't they??

I guess Ohana nui is really extended family right? But...I'm taking liberties and they are one and the same in this instance.

I like what they say about belonging on this website [url="http://www.gohawaii.com/exec/105311/800"]http://www.gohawaii.com/exec/105311/800[/url]

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[SweetEmi]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] I feel bad about misspeaking...

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

Emi - yes, you can not be related by blood and still be ohana. You didn't misspeak, I'm just trying to clarify the nuances for you. Don't worry --- I'm sure your family doesn't care either way. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Spleen

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[MOMofONE]

I love listening to you two! LOL

Emi - it is the 41st Annual Cultural Festival and that is on June 26-27, from 9 am - 3 pm
We will be in port on the 27th.
It sounds like it would be worth our time to go.

I had heard of people snorkeling at/near Puuhonua O Honaunau but no one ever mentioned swimming so I assumed there was no actual beach and/or may be rough entry or rough water for my 11 year old. If there is a safe and decent swim area it would be great to do both.

OK then - a plan B. How much do you think it waould cost to take a cab from pier to there?
IS it easy enough to get a cab back?
A cab would save us the time picking up/returning rental to airport and then afford us more time at the festival.

Much Mahalo yet again SweetEmi for your time and knowledge!
Tina

[spleen93]

You can actually swim in or very near the park. Plenty of turtles in this area as well. I don't recall whether there are showers in the area though.

Spleen

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[SweetEmi]

This is what I would do...I would rent a car, drive up to the festival. After experiencing the festival, I would check out the beach (Annette says to go to the one right outside the park that the locals call two-step) and depending on the conditions etc., it would make a difference on whether it was rough entry or not. If you don't like it there, I would head back to Kona (after stopping at Super J's for lau lau) and go to Kahalu'u beach. There are facilities there, usually a food cart, and great snorkeling. Oh...and lifeguards. To get there take Kamehameha III road down to Keauhou and go around the shopping center and down towards the water. It is RIGHT next to Ohaha Keauhou Beach Hotel. Then, I would shower and then head into Kona town and take the kids to the Hard Rock and look around at what is available there. Then take back the car.

That would be my plan...Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.

Thanks Spleen! They are closer to me than my blood family...so they definately are my Ohana. Had a good time hanging out with everyone yesterday. Didn't smoke and ate sensibly....Woooo Hoooo!

Aloha,
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[MOMofONE]

Yes Emi - where is Super J's located?
Laulau is the "hawaiian plate" or is that the pork dish?
Am really trying to learn a few Hawaiian words and my daughter is as well - printed out a list (where is that now?).
Discovered the other day the pronunctiation is quite challenging. I said "Mahalo" to a service rep from a tour company, and when HE said "mahalo", I realized just how POORLY I botched that one! LOL [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Well you have been VERY helpful, as always, and I'm thankful I don't have to worry about pronunctiation when I send you a "Mahalo"! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Tina

[SweetEmi]

How sweet that you are trying!! Normally it isn't too bad to pronounce once you have the basics, you pretty much pronounce all the letters normally. I'm sure there are websites that help with the basics.

Let's see...laulau is usually pork and a piece of butterfish (they they leave off often) folded in luau leaves (which is like spinich), then wrapped in ti leaves and then steamed. They make them with other things too, like chicken. Local food but good and the luau leaves I think are pretty good for you.

[url="http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/rest/bihaw.htm"]http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/rest/bihaw.htm[/url]

Great website above with local restaurants and other foods...Super J's is listed but doesn't really tell you where it is exactly. When you are going out to Honaunau....when you go past the Supermarket, police station, Manago Hotel, etc in Captain Cook and before you get to Honaunau School, on the Makai (ocean) side of the road is Super J's...it's in the middle of coffee land. Try to spot it on the way out. I'm sorry I can't give you mile markers or distances... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Aloha,
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

Fewer and fewer places are including butterfish in their laulau ... it's kind of sad, really. Congrats on not smoking, Emi!

Spleen

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[MOMofONE]

Those directions are wonderful Emi.
Mile markers? What are those?
Here in the "mountains" of PA we look for landmarks like the yellow dog, large rock shaped like a nose, girl with pigtails, ....that variety.
We'll find it just fine! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Well I'm drooling...I just HAVE to try that laulau! I will inquire about the butterfish. Perhaps it is considered too "exotic" a combination for majority of tourists but is available if requested.

And yes, congrats on not smoking! You go Emi!
Much Mahalo,
Tina

[SweetEmi]

Tina and Spleen: Mahalo!!

Tina: Oh, good about the directions, you'll fit right in. We live in about the sixth house up the hill next to the huge mango tree...Which is wonderful it you know a mango tree from any other tree (which I DO NOT unless there are fruit on it)

I'm thinking Super J's may have the butterfish if anyone does because they are known around here by the locals for their laulau.

When you get them, they are wrapped in leaves that you do not eat. Usually they have a tie or a rubber band on it. Take that part off and underneath is the luau leaf, which is much softer and kind of molded onto the rest of it. You will see the difference. I know at first it is kind of ackward and if no one else is having any that you can watch it might be hard to know what to do.

Aloha!
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!