No worries, there won’t be any hard questions in this edition of trivia (unless someone can answer me why this didn’t go out on Tuesday?!! – argh). Rather I thought I’d share some interesting info I’ve learned about Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands were originally discovered in 1778 by Captain James Cook.  Accidentally by the way too, as he and his crew were on their way to Alaska in search of a Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic & Pacific oceans proving suggesting once again that men seem to be naturally disinclined to get directions when they are lost. 🙃

Landing at Waimea, the Hawaiians thought they were being visited by gods. One can only imagine their curiosity at the British visitors who wore tri-cornered hats, smoked pipes and packed major heat had guns. Hawaiians were familiar with iron but only from nails in driftwood that washed ashore but Cook’s ship contained a remarkable supply of iron of all kinds to the locals. Cook was, by most accounts, a decent fellow, but sailors being sailors…their arrival coinciding with a time of great upheaval and ultimately ended up causing significant problems. Although Cook was initially welcomed, he met with a rather unpleasant death in 1779, being beaten and stabbed in a squabble over a stolen rowboat. Ultimately his remains were returned to the British and Cook was buried at sea in Kealakekua Bay.

Taking a short side trip to the ‘downtown’ section of Kona on Alili Drive to check out the usual tourist traps shops we passed by the old church across the street from the Hulihe’e Palace. Tropical 19th century architecture is quite fascinating as are the plethora of coffee shops at every nook, cranny and turn.  Hard to believe there is so much emphasis on the coffee since Hawaii is rather low on the totem pole of coffee producers in the world, not even in the top ten. But most people know that Kona coffee is quite tasty and I for one especially enjoy Kona’s liquid nirvana.

The palace built in 1838 by then Governor Kuakini quickly became the vacation spot for Hawaiian royalty until 1914. Currently it is a museum that houses an impressive collection of Koa furniture. The church was the first Christian church built on the islands. Built of lava rock and crushed coral with Koa hardwood gracing the tall interior. Joints inside were attached with pins made from gnarly ‘ohi’a trees.

As for Sam, seems like he’s still a bit lost trying to figure out why the days are so long without his uprights in the midst of hectic hounds.

Have a terrific Friday; I’ll leave you with one last photo-op from the beach that didn’t get watermarked because I was too lazy tired to go back and hassle with the app  (cue gnashing of teeth).

Live, love, bark! <3