Take A Moment for History During Your Hawaii Vacation

It isn’t exactly the nation’s capital or Philadelphia that you’ll be touring here.  In the first place, most of Hawaii’s history is oral – passed along from generation to generation and only recently committed to book and electronic recording.

Hawaii has been a state for just 50 years.  Almost half the country was alive when Hawaii became a state.

Our monuments are natural ones.  In contrast to the Washington Monument, the Seattle Space Needle, the St. Louis Arch and Independence Hall, we offer Diamond Head, Haleakala, the Na Pali Coast and Kilauea Volcano.

But there is a Historic Honolulu to see.  It’s more than worthwhile, and it doesn’t take very long to cover – half a day should do it.

The area is on the Waikiki side of Downtown Honolulu.  A good place to start is at the statue of Kamehameha, on King Street across from Iolani Palace.  It’s a favorite photographic attraction, commemorating King Kamehameha I, who was the warrior who united (some would say conquered) all the islands.  The statue is draped with dozens of 30-foot lei in June to celebrate his birthday, which is a state holiday.

Across the street, Iolani Palace is the only royal residence in the United States.  It was built in 1822 by King David Kalakaua and was last occupied in 1893 by Queen Lilioukalani, who was deposed.  The grounds are pleasant and welcoming, and inside tours can be arranged during which you can witness the furnishings and amenities that prevailed at the time.

In the same area, the Hawaii State Capitol is worth a look, if only for its non-traditional architectural approach.  The Hawaii State Art Museum is a beautiful and rewarding stop, and, on the other side of the palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall) and Kawaiahao Church are eye-catching landmarks.

The Mission Houses, next to the church, were the original headquarters of the Sandwich Islands Mission, are the oldest structures in Honolulu and provide a link to an era of significant cultural change in the islands.  Built between 1821 and 1841, the three mission houses that make up the MissionHawaii Vacation Blog - Hawaii Travel Guide, Hawaii News › Edit — WordPress Houses Museum served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries to travel to the Hawaiian Islands.  The Frame House was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawaii.  The Chamberlain House, built of coral blocks, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies.  The third building today functions as the Printing Office.  A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawaii is demonstrated there on a regular basis.

You might consider beginning or finishing your tour of the area at Aloha Tower Marketplace.  Aloha Tower once was the tallest structure in the islands and served as a welcoming beacon to the visitors who first reached island shores on luxurious passenger liners.  The marketplace features lots of unique shops with international labels, Hawaii-made fashions and crafts, some great restaurants and free attractions – right on the water.

It’s not the most exciting history you’ll ever re-live, but it is unique and enjoyable.  If you’d like us to help you work a tour into your vacation plans, pick an agent at Hawaii-Aloha.Com, or call 1-800-843-8771.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Related Blog Posts:
Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood
Make Way, Hawaii Has arrived

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1 comment March 24th, 2009

Hawaii’s Lava Rock Curse

You may have heard about it.   There’s a legend that says Madam Pele, the
Hawaiian goddess of fire who commands the volcanic action on Hawaii’s Big
Island, lives in the fire pit in Halema’uma’u crater, at the summit caldera of
the Kilauea volcano.

You may also have heard that Madam Pele doesn’t like to have lava rocks
purloined once they have cooled and settled.  It is said that anyone who removes
a piece of rock from the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park will incur her wrath.
Bad luck is certain to follow.

Well, visitors take them anyhow.  They’re nice souvenirs and they travel well.

But there’s no question about this:  Visitors who have taken rocks from Pele’s
land have returned them in hopes of ending scary streaks of bad luck. Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park and most of the hotels are inundated with packages
containing rocks from guilt-ridden vacationers who are intent upon reversing
their sudden spates of misfortune.

Pets die. Jobs are lost. Houses burn down. Sudden and devastating illness
strikes loved ones. Marriages break apart.

 These are actual quotes from former Big-Island vacationers:

       Please take this rock and put it back somewhere on your island. 
       I have had very bad luck since it came into my life and I am very sorry I took
       it.  Please forgive me and I pray that once I send   it
       back where it comes from, my bad luck will go away.

       Ever since we have taken items, we have had nothing but back luck and
       medical problems. We apologize for taking the items, so we are returning     
       same to Hawaii.

       We placed the rock last fall on a cast iron chair in our garden; this
       spring the chair’s leg had fallen off.  That’s the least of the problems
       we have had since we’ve taken the rock.

       Please return these rocks to their rightful spot.  I never had so much
       bad luck as I’ve had since I returned from Hawaii.

       I picked up a small piece of lava somewhere, (we are rock and crystal
       collectors), never dreaming of what might come.  Since then we have lost
       half of our retirement savings to a scam artist and will have to go back
       to work.   Please work your magic on    the enclosed piece of lava and
       hopefully nothing worse will happen.

There are thousands more like those.  The Volcano Post Office, Volcano National
Park and lots of hotels find the returned rocks a nuisance (although they
faithfully dispose of them by tossing them onto a big pile right behind the
Volcano Visitor Center.)

The Volcano Gallery on the Big Island gladly accepts returned rocks.  Once they
receive the rocks they carefully wrap them in ti leaves and return them to a
special location in Volcano close to Pele’s home, along with an offering of
orchids to ask for her forgiveness.  For the service, the gallery asks for a
donation of $15, but will perform the service in any case.

What, you’ve been to Hawaii and have a lava rock?   You can still return it. 
Here’s the address:

Rainbow Moon Attn: Lava Rock Return P.O. Box 699, Volcano, HI 96785

Posted by Jim Winpenny

35 comments October 22nd, 2008