Goodbye to the Hawaiian Islands
- Paul Hallman
- Jan 31
- 3 min read
Our four days in Hawaii with blue skies, warm weather and an opportunity to visit all four large islands has drawn to an end. Starting with Honolulu, then Kauai followed by Maui and today the Big Island, has been a treat for both Jan and myself. We have been to Kauai several times but now we can say we have visited all four islands.
But how did this chain of islands get formed?
The earth’s outer crust is made up of a series of tectonic plates that move over the surface of the planet. In areas where the plates come together, sometimes volcanoes will form. Volcanoes can also form in the middle of a plate, where magma (molten or partially molten rock) rises upward until it erupts on the seafloor, at what is called a “hot spot.”
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by such a hot spot occurring in the middle of the Pacific Plate. While the hot spot itself is fixed, the plate is moving. So, as the plate moved over the hot spot, the string of islands that make up the Hawaiian Island chain were formed. Our last day in the islands was on Hawaii or sometimes called the Big Island. Today the Island of Hawaii is known for its active volcano, Kilauea, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The last eruption took place in 2024 and has made headlines around the world. The Island of Hawaii is also known for its incredible natural wonders, including waterfalls, sparkling blue waters and pristine beaches. During our visit to Maui and today in Kona the skies are dark as a result of the volcano.
We anchored offshore at the town of Kona on the Island of Hawaii and took tenders into the town port. We were treated to a dolphin show as we crossed the bay.
We sat on the upper deck of the Tender as we boated to shore
Originally we were going to do the Hop On - Hop Off bus but it was sold out so we walked the town. The only other form of transportation in the town was the free City bus but it only made a few stops and was on an hourly schedule so if we decided to get off, we would have to wait another hour to get back on and we didn't see that many things to do in Kona, so we opted to walk.
Our first stop was an ABC Store where we purchased a Spam Musubi. Jan had never had Spam so she decided to give it a try. Friends on the ship suggested that it would be a good idea to try it while in Hawaii as it is not readily available in other locations especially in restaurants. It was spam on top of a bed of rice, wrapped in rice paper and heated, so it was served warm.
We walked the main street and became town tourists. There was not much to see in Kona but we made the best of a hot sunny day. There were several old churches on the main street as well as many cafes and restaurants.
When walking along the sidewalk, near the waters edge, we noticed a small set of rocks that someone had used to build a small statue.
We visited an outdoor market and took note of all the fruit that was being sold as well as trinkets. Hawaii is famous for fruit and coffee as the largest coffee plantations in the US is located in Hawaii. The Kona brand is world famous. By the way, what is Bread Fruit?
At 4 pm we tendered back to the ship and bid farewell to Hawaii. This evening The Coral Princess departs from the Kona Port at 5 pm, and we continue our journey by spending the next 5 days at sea where we will cross the equator as well as the International Date Line.
We bid farewell to the Big Island as the sun set is partially covered in a dark haze from the volcano that recently erupted.
Now we get Five Sea Days, for relaxation, some card and other games with new friends and exercise in the gym and stairs cases.
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