Aloha Festivals Royal Courts Investiture

The Aloha Festivals Royal Court Investiture (Ka Ho'ola'a O Na Ali'i) was held on on Aug. 25 2007, at high noon at Halema`uma`u Crater, believed by some native Hawaiians to be the home of Pele. The Ali`i (royal monarchs) will be adorned with their reigning symbols of royalty to the sounds and sights of ceremonial chants and hula. This festival is held on the last Saturday in August every year at the Halema`uma`u Crater in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Below are some photos of the ceremony including the arrival of the Royal Court, traditional hula dancing, historical re-enactment, and the playing of ceremonial musical instruments.

Kilauea Lava Flow Update (Aug 2007)

Excerpt from CBS News:

Kilauea National Park, Hawaii - Lava poured down the side of Mount Kilaueaon on the "Big Island" of Hawaii on Tuesday as a new phase began in the 24-year eruption of the Kilauea volcano.

The nearby Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve has now closed to the public. Lava erupted from a fissure system about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in length and was pooling in ponds about 50 feet high and a couple of hundred feet across.

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources said molten rock had caused three of the ponds to overflow, posing a danger to the public.

Toxic fumes were also being emitted by the volcano, the department said. The natural area reserve was established in 1987. It covers more than 16,000 acres. Kilauea volcano, on the southernmost Island of Hawaii, is one of the most active on Earth. It sits on the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, resting on the flanks of its larger neighbor volcano Manua Loa.

Kilauea stands just under 4200 feet tall at its highest point.

The current eruption of Kilauea, known as the Pu`u `O`o Eruption, started in January 1983. In the process, lava flows have destroyed 181 houses and the National Park visitor center. There are no signs that the current eruption is slowing or will come to an end any time soon.

Big Island Has No Beaches?

I recently spoke with friends of mine that took a trip to Hawaii a few years ago. I asked them what island they went to and they responded "the Big Island - you know, the island with no beaches!" Needless to say, I was shocked that they thought of the Big Island as a place with no beaches!

Certainly, there is no Waikiki equivalent on the Big Island, but any visitor or resident will let you know there are plenty of beaches on the Big Island to satisfy anyones beach-going taste. I immediately guessed that my friends probably stayed in a hotel that did not have an adjacent beach. I was right, they stayed at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay - which is perched on lava sea cliffs overlooking the ocean, but with no beach in the vicinity. It is too bad that my friends did not inquire with the hotel staff or any of the slew of tourist guides to find out that there are many great beaches on the island and some very close by.


If you are not staying in a hotel in the resort-laden sunny Kohala Coast, you will have to drive to the beach. But once you get there, your trip would be well-worth it. Instead of long, established beaches such as Waikiki, the Big Island boasts dozens of smaller beaches surrounded by natural beauty (instead of the towering skyline of hotels and condos). You will find every variety of beach - white sand, black sand, grey sand, and even a green sand beach. Some are located just off the main roads with paved parking lots, showers, and bathrooms - such as Kahaluu Beach (Kona) and Hapuna Beach State Park (Kohala). Others, like Makalawena Beach (Kohala) are more austere and require you to hike to reach them. There many secluded beaches that you may be the only one there or just one of a small handful of people - such as Kekaha Kai State Park (Kohala).

If you like undisturbed natural beauty, you will love the beaches of the Big Island. Even popular beaches like Kua Bay (Kohala) and Punaluu Black Sand Beach (Ka'u) are set against their natural surroundings - be it dried lava beds or clusters of shady palm trees. This is the Hawaii we day-dream about. The fact is you could visit a different beach each day of your vacation on the Big Island.

Check out our Big Island Beach Guide for reviews, photos, and maps of all the beaches on the Big Island. We detail how to get to the beaches and which ones are best for sun-bathing, swimming, and snorkeling.