On our most recent trip to Hawaii, we had a chance to visit several new areas since we were there for an extended period of time. One of our favorite new places was the Place of Refuge park (aka Pu'uhonua o Honaunau). Most visitors to the Big Island visit the snorkelling area just outside the park, but very few ever pay the $5 park fee to enter the state park. Within the park boundaries, there is a short hike that leads through beautiful palm trees and shoreline leading you to some ancient Hawaiian ruins. We stopped at these tide pools and played around for at least an hour. The water was crystal clear and would get refreshed every minute or so by the next wave. The sandy bottom was a perfect place to lounge and listen to the surf hit the lava rocks. Next time, we'll be bringing refreshments and spending the day.
