Day 19: Kaelakeua Bay, Pu'uhonua o Honaunan State Park, Kahalu'u Beach

 As we traveled along with road to Cook's last stand (Kaelakeua Bay), we spotted split-leaf philadendron, oranmental ginger, Lobster claw heliconia, mango trees, Kona coffee trees, poisettas, and papaya trees. Even spotted a Gold Dust Day gecko haning out on the vegetation. Across the bay is a memorial dedicated to Cook. There are plaques around the area giving information about the ecosystems, such as, the sand communites, the rocky outcroppings, the coral turrets and the lava rocks/boulders. In each ecosystem, a list of organisms is mentioned that call that ecosystem home. Another plaque gives information on the Spinner Dolphins who use the bay as a resting spot.

We traveled to the place of the refugee, Pu'uhonua o Honaunan State Park. Each major Hawaii district had a place of refugee and law breakers could get a safe haven there if they made it and weren't killed first. No matter where the people came from, they were given a safe haven. The young were taught to take care of the land and the ocean and if after the age of 12 they broke the law, they would know what the consequence would be. People seeking refugee had to swim across the bay.

While touring the place of refugee we met Tava (taeki) and listened to him talk about his adventures in a double canoe. In 1976, he along with 12 other men, sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti in a 67' double canoe for 31 days. Again in 1985, he sailed along with 12 other men to Whitangi (New Zealand) in the same boat for 3.5 months.  His history is tattooed on his body and is one of the last of his generation to do so.

Next to the park was a spot for us to snorkel. Spending 3 hours looking around, swimming out to the pod of dolphins, just viewing the variety of ocean life made for an AWESOME day. Once we were done playing, we headed to Kahalu'u Beach, one of Kona's Public Beaches to do some more snorkeling. There wasn't a lot of live coral here but there was an abundance of fish. This is do to the fact that people feed the fish. It was funny turning around and having this wall of fish staring at you. We had one fish that followed us around and every time we turned around, because you could feel something watching you, it would turn around also. It was very comical. We did spot a Pacific Green turtle feeding in the area. Leaving was hard to do. I could stay in the area all day. Next time, I'll have to dive the area and see more.

Day 14: Christchurch

Long drive to Christchurch for our final night in New Zealand. We stopped at the Church of the Good Shepherd before continuing on to Christchurch. Once we arrived in the city, we were able to check into the Y, do laundry and have downtime. It was nice to be able to sit and go through the 1000s of pictures taken while visiting New Zealand along with being able to do some sightseeing of Christchurch instead of traveling in a van constantly. We'll be flying to Auckland first thing in the morning thn on to Honolulu, Hawaii were the adventure continues.

Day 13: Kawarau Bridge, Mt. Cook and Cook's Glacier

On our way to Mt. Cook and Cook's Glacier, we stopped at Kawarau Bridge for some bungy jumping. The bridge is the sight for the first commercial bungy enterprise by AJ Hackett. It is 142' above a glacial river. After signing in and getting weighed, we headed to the bridge. Only 4 of us were brave enough to take the plunge. It was a little chilly up on the bridge and had started to rain while we were waiting. Once it was your turn, the guys strapped your feet in based upon how far you wanted to go. Since it was chilly, I opted not to go half way in the water but to go in up to my arms. One of the guys decided to go in half-way up to his chest. Afterwards he did mention that he was very cold. Well duh, it's a glacial river you are jumping in to and it so happened to be the coldest summer in NZ history, not to mention the wind and the rain wasn't helping much either.

Finally it was my turn. I got strapped in, took a deep breath, smiled for the camera and for Bob that was taking pictures from the observation deck, and waited for the countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...BUNGY!  As I fell from the bridge, my first thoughts were "What were you thinking!!" but as I continued making my way, head first to the river below, I was enjoying the ride. I skimmed my hands in the glacial river and took the recoil back up, just to fall down again. After a few bounces, I was taken into the boat and asked if I would do it again. OF COURSE!!! Maybe next time I'm in NZ, I'll do the 440' drop. I picked up my pictures and dvd, filled out a postcard to mom and dad and then continued on to Mt. Cook.

We arrived at Mt. Cook and after hanging out at Peter's lookout over Lake Pukaki, I lead the group to the glacier. We passed terminal and lateral moraines, climbed up till hills, saw glacial polishing, meltwater streams, outwash plains, kettle lakes, and witnessed the blue glacial rivers become whiteish-gray with glacial flour.

 

Eventually we had to make it back to Doc and head on to our lodging for the night.