Kealakekua Bay
At Kealakekua Bay, we rent a kayak and paddle across to the other side. This is where the Captain Cook Monument stands, marking the spot where he was killed by the Hawaiians on February 14, 1779. There's a beautiful reef for snorkeling. Spinner dolphins are often seen here, but unfortunately we don't have any luck.
Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative
At the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative near Tomonoan on the west coast, we take a leisurely stroll through the gardens and treat ourselves to delicious macadamia nut ice cream from the local farmers' cooperative — naturally, we also sample the various coffee varieties. Unfortunately, this establishment has since closed.
Avenue of Flowers — Highway 160
Highway 160 leads down to the sea, lined on both sides with colorful flowers.
St. Benedict's Painted Church
A few hundred meters along Highway 160, a sign points to St. Benedict's Painted Church. A short detour is well worth it — the church is truly one of a kind and absolutely worth seeing.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau
At the end of the highway, we visit Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park — a historic Hawaiian site that was used for several centuries.
Green Sea Turtles
Right next to the sacred site, the bay continues further along. Here you can watch the protected green sea turtles feeding on the reef.
Dinner at Sam's Choice
Near the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, a bit further up the hill, you'll find excellent food with a magnificent view of the Pacific.
Manta Watching
Afterwards, we head down to the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and step onto the visitor terrace in front of the Crystal Blue Cocktail Bar. If you're lucky, you can watch manta rays feeding on plankton here. The hotel illuminates a large area of the water surface. The tour boats that offer these excursions are also moored in this bay — unfortunately we don't spot any mantas, but it's a lovely experience nonetheless.
