Sampans, Mahai‘ula Bay, and the Big Bang
By Pete Hendricks I was enjoying a pleasant morning one day back in 1996, snorkeling at Mahai‘ula Bay (now known as Kekaha Kai State Park) in North Kona. Just off one of the lava fingers of the reef, I spotted…
Then and Now: Reflections on World War II and Its Current Relevance
By Pete Hendricks 2020 marks the end of World War II in the Pacific in 1945, 75 years ago. The fear, uncertainty, and anxiety in the days after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack changed the way of life in Hawai‘i…
Then & Now: Hawai‘i, Maui, and the ‘Alenuihāhā
By Pete Hendricks Prevailing winds travel thousands of miles east to west across the vast Pacific Ocean in the latitudes of the Hawaiian Islands. These winds are known as “tradewinds” for their ability to push sailing ships around the world…
Then & Now: Hawai‘i & Leviathan–The Fascinating Tale of Whaling Ships on Hawai‘i Island
By Pete Hendricks They had been swimming the Pacific Ocean for millennia. As humans extended their reach eastward, southward, and northward across the great ocean, leviathan and Polynesian often crossed paths. Thus, the first Polynesians to populate Hawai‘i incorporated the…
Then & Now: David Kalākauaʻs Hawai‘i—The High-Tech King and a Famous Visit to North Kohala
By Pete Hendricks On November 16, we celebrate the birthday of King David Kalākaua, Hawai‘i’s monarch from February, 1874, to January, 1891. This Hawaiian King is well known as a champion of Hawaiian culture, hula, and song. Lesser known is…
Then & Now: Ka‘u Landings
By Pete Hendricks Mauna Loa Volcano had almost taken its present form when the first Polynesians began to fish, live, and farm in the Ka’ū District. The Ninole Volcanic Hills, seen above Punalu‘u, date from eruptions long before Mauna Loa…
Then & Now: Kau‘pulehu and Kona Village Resort
By Pete Hendricks As the schooner New Moon entered Kahuwai Bay in 1961, only the ghosts of the deserted village of Ka’upulehu were present, but the bay had been an important chapter in the story of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In…
Then & Now: Hāmākua Coast—Sugar, Landings, and Shipwrecks
By Pete Hendricks The Hāmākua Coast from Hilo to Waipi‘o Valley is a 50 mile stretch of rocky shoreline, deep valleys, and imposing cliffs. Such a windward coast seems an unlikely place to find what was once the dominant industry…
Then & Now: Puako—A Resilient, Ocean Focused Community
By Pete Hendricks Puako, on the northwest coast of Hawai‘i Island, had been a fishing and salt producing settlement centuries before the arrival of Captain James Cook in early 1779. When Cook left Kealakekua Bay to continue his ill-fated third…
Then & Now: Mahaiula Bay–Surfing & Shipwrecks
By Pete Hendricks When the northwest ocean swell is big—usually in fall and winter—a large offshore patch of surf can be seen clearly from Ka’ahumanu Highway, three miles north of Keahole Airport. Mahaiula Bay—now known as Kekaha Kai State Park—has…
