Ke Kahakai

The Big Island is unlike the other islands in the Hawaiian chain. It's rough, rugged, raw, full of lava and landscapes new to the face of Earth. So there aren't an abundance of sand beaches that most people associate with Hawaii. There is a great deal of rocky shoreline. But there are beaches that are absolute jewels. The next three blog entries will show the day we had Monday, when we visited two beaches and a pu'u, or cinder cone in Ke Kahakai state park.

Ke Kahakai state park begins just north of Kona International Airport, which is about 8 miles north of Kailua-Kona. Ke Kahakai park runs for 6 miles between the airport and the Four Seasons resort. To reach Ke Kahakai, you drive for about 10 minutes through lava fields, nothing around you but brown and black pahoehoe (smooth) and a'a (rough) lava. Makes you wonder where you are going.



In this photo is the walkway from where you park cars to the first beach. You can see the bleak, desolate lava landscape. You can also see the oasis in the distance, a cluster of palms and vegetation. And that's Peggy walking ahead of me.



And this is a quintessential Hawaiian beach. Powder soft white sand, clear azure waters and swaying palm trees. Of course since it's the Big Island there's a lava rock shoreline bordering the bay. This beach is sometimes called Ke Kahakai, but is also known as Mahiaula's. It's usually not to crowded despite it's amazing beauty. That's partially because the drive in is rough, almost too much for a two wheel drive car.



Here's another view of Ke Kahakai, looking south along the beach.



One of the interesting things about Ke Kahakai is this house. I think the story is that some wealthy Japanese guy bought the place years ago, but died or something around the same time the state acquired the land for the park. So today it stands empty and open to walk around in. The inside is very plain wood, but you can't help but dream about making it your own house.



This is my attempt at an artistic shot from inside the second floor of the house. I like the simple colors involved in the shot.



Another inside shot, with a little roof for some added color.



Here's a shot from the second floor of the house, coming down the steps to the ground. Even though I live here and have been to many beaches like this, and could go to one tomorrow morning, I am still blown away by the beauty, by the tranquility, by the fact I made my dream of living on a tropical island come true. Looking at this picture still makes me want to be in a scene like that just as much as before I lived here.