Saturday, October 24: After a leisurely morning and an early afternoon swim at the pool, we headed for the King Kam Hotel, to board our Body Glove catamarran for a historic narrated dinner cruise down the coast from Kona to Kealakekua Bay and Captain Cook's monument. Did you know that that little piece of ground was ceeded to the British Empire by the Hawaiians out of respect for Captain Cook. Each year a frigate of the British Navy visits the site to tend and care for the monument and the small piece of ground surrounding it. The monument is set off form the surrounding area by heavy chain connected to cannon barrels mounted vertically in the concrete, with a cannon ball on top of each.
As we cruised down the coast our historian briefed us on the historic significance of varous areas of the coastline, including a look at a very long water slide built by the Hawaiians for the Alli (big chiefs) It ran from high in the hills all the way to the ocean. Must have been a royal treat to slide a few thousand feet down to the sea.
Arriving in Kealekekua Bay, a review of the historic significance of the that area, the interaction of the Hawaiians and the British under Captain Cook, and the little misunderstanding between the Hawaiians and the British that led to the death of Captain Cook. Seems it all started with the Hawaiians stealing a shore boat from the Brits. They did not want the boat, but he nails in the boat. Iron nails were a new and sought after treasure for the Hawaiians. Captain Cool wanted it back, since British seamen and officers for the most part could not swim. Swimming was not a requirement in the British Navy at that time, so as to discourage desertion by swimming to shore. He went with 14 British seamen to take a chief hostage under false pretense, until the Hawaiians would return his shore boat. A Hawaiian threw a rock that struck Captain Cook. He bled from the site of impact, and the Hawaiians realized that he was not their god, Lono, after all. The season of peace had ended, the season of ware had begun, and Captain Cook and 14 of his crew were killed by the Hawaiians. I guess...no god, no special considerations.
Dinner and dancing on the sunset return to Kona with music of one cool, big Hawaiian dude on his guitar. He was darn good, and the music was contemporary, not Hawaiian. Dolphins and flying fish accompanied us and the boat on the return trip. Dinner included Lau Lau Pork, beef Kabobs, Teryaki Chicken wings, breads, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Caesar salad and beverages. A beautiful and romantic trip in the setting sun of Kona.
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