Home > Hawaii-Kona > Kona Shore Excursion: Kona History and Culture Tour
USD $69.00
Kona Shore Excursion: Kona History and Culture Tour
Hawaii, United States of America
While you’re in port in Kona, get a taste of Big Island history and culture on this shore excursion. Learn about the history of Kona at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park – an ancient Hawaiian place of refuge for law breakers. Visit Saint Benedict’s Painted Church, where Belgian-born priest Father Velghe painted colorful biblical scenes on the walls of the church. Finish your day at Royal Kona Coffee and sample a delicious Kona cup of joe.
The Big Island isn’t only breathtaking scenery and beaches – it also has a history and culture just waiting to be explored on a shore excursion. On this historical and cultural tour of Kona, you’ll take a step back in time to Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, which translates to “Place of Refuge at Honaunau.” In ancient Hawaii, residents who broke Hawaii’s system of kapu (law) would receive death as punishment. The only option for survival would be to escape to the nearest puuhonua, or place of refuge.
Today, you can experience the peace of Puuhonua o Honoaunau National Historical Park, where ancient temples and ki’i (carved wooden images) hint at stories from the past. Stroll around this palm-covered sanctuary and enjoy the view of Honaunau Bay.
Continue your historical journey to St. Benedict’s Painted Church, where Belgian-born Father Velghe’s three-dimensional paintings depict heroes from the Bible. This artwork served as an important teaching tool in a time when many people couldn’t read and write. Father Velghe painted this church in 1842, and this parish continues the work Father Velghe began more than a century ago.
Finish your shore excursion at the Royal Kona Coffee Visitor Center, where you’ll see how coffee “cherries” are processed into delicious Royal Kona coffee. Enjoy the view of Kealakekua Bay in the distance and savor a sample of Kona coffee. Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return back to the ship in Kona Pier for this activity. If your ship is delayed and you are unable attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
This is a good tour, that let's you see some parts of Kona you might not get to. Problem is that it is too short. You could use more time at most stops . Tours drivers are good, though and add a lot to the sights you are seeing through their knowledge of history of the island.
Review by: Susan D, September 2017
Great Guide , visiting the refuge was the best part , a beautiful place enjoyed the history of this place , we were given plenty of time for this visit._br/_ We also visited the Kona Coffee and the Painted Church.
Review by: Brenda V, July 2017
Roberts tour guide was excellent!
Review by: Franny, March 2017
We didn't get much of a tour of the coffee plantation. I did a coffee plantation Tour in Costa Rico, so I know what the bean cherry looks like on the bush and how all the layers are separated after the beans are dried out in the sun. All the free samples were tasty if you like coffee. The chocolate covered coffee beans were really good, too and I bought many packages of chocolate covered macadamia nuts as requested by my family...some milk chocolate and some dark chocolate. many varieties. No need for a stop at the Mona Laua -most popular brand on the mainland factory. I would have liked to see how they are processed. Fascinated by the prep- work required to make cashews into cocktail nuts. As seen in Malaysia...ever wonder why cashews are so expensive? Why you cannot buy them in the shell? workers wrap fingers with cling wrap because the nut meat is floating in a toxin liquid just inside the shell.
Review by: Bhagwan B, December 2016
The beach history was good. We could have had Kona coffee anywhere on the island. The tour should have also included Captain Cook's site, which it did not. The drive thru Kona was okay.
Review by: Richard T, July 2016
Excellent Tour. Well worth the cost. Beautiful location in Kona. History and culture were both found in one location. Excellent narration to and from the sites.
Review by: Linda B, July 2016
Lincoln our tour guide/ bus driver was great! We learned so much about Kona history. I highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Fred P, January 2016
Good for what we saw, just not as interesting as other sites on the Big Island.
Review by: judyanapier, December 2015
The tour was very informative and the sites were interesting. We finished in 3 and 1/2 hours and it was booked as a 4 hour tour so I think we could have spent a little more time at some locations especially the National Park as there was an interesting self guided tour but we had to rush through it. Our guide was very knowledgeable.
Review by: Adrienne H, September 2015
The Historical Refuge Park is a must see and very relaxing. Most interesting was St Benedicts's Painted Church. Imagine a priest sent to this side of the island not knowing how to communicate with people then painted murals so they could understand him.
Review by: Clifford B, October 2014
Informative
Review by: Catherine S, February 2014
very good knowledgeable guide
Review by: rogerryberg, January 2014
Very informative and enjoyable.
Review by: LESTER W, October 2013
fair, guide talked more about his own life than anything else
Review by: bsteeves8, June 2013
Great tour guide. Just enough history, great swim in heated natural swimming area.
Review by: JANICE E H, April 2013
Contractor claimed the booking had not been confirmed by viator
Review by: Paul T, March 2013
We choose to tour with Roberts Hawaii as we heard good reviews from other people and it is much cheaper than the tour provided by Pride of America. We saw the same places as those on the more expensive tours. Kona is on a big island of Hawaii. It is also one of the driest place compared to Hilo which is on the same island but on the other side. The tour bus driver is a local and knew much of the history and interesting facts of the areas. We went to Puuhonua o Honaunau National Park which was once belong to the Royal family. This place has a place of refuse for law breakers who can get to the place of refuse before being captured. These people would be pardoned by the king and allowed to be returned to normal life. We visited a nice painted church at St. Benedict which had nice paintings inside painted by the former priest. We also visited a Kona coffee plantation to taste the coffee and to purchase 100% Kona Coffee.
Review by: Jane J, February 2013
Great trip - just as advertised.
Review by: Patricia Mary N, January 2013
Working with Viator for any of my shore excursions has been a pleasure.
Review by: Edward G, December 2012
Had a knowledgable driver who added to the historical and cultural part of the tour. Liked the Kona coffee stop.
Review by: Pamela R, December 2012
Very good and very informative. Our driver/guide was first class.
Review by: Kathy L, November 2012
Great tour. You saw how coffee beans were grown and dried and had an opportunity to buy Kona coffee products. Painted church was interesting to see. You had time to walk at your leisure at the city of refuge. It is hot and quite a bit of walking which was fine,but I was not aware of that before going on the tour. Saw a lot of the city and had a great tour guide that pointed out plants and spots of interest.
Review by: Tom J, October 2012
Excellent trip, thoroughly enjoyable. Honaunau was both beautiful and fascinating. Driver Dean was very pleasant.
Review by: James B, October 2012
excellant worth every dollar
Review by: Judy D, September 2012
Very helpful and informative staff
Review by: Constance C, August 2012
Of the four shore excursions we booked (3 through Viator, one through NCL), this was the least good. The driver, Lloyd, was difficult to understand and not, perhaps, as interesting or engaging as other drivers. The oddest (and most off-putting) thing was when, at the end of our stop at the coffee place, he whipped out his ukelele and proceeded to serenade us with not one, but TWO very LENGTHY Hawaiian songs written by a friend of his. He was not a particularly good singer, the verses were endless, and it became annoying and embarassing to have to listen to!
Review by: Adrian F, May 2012
Very interesting trip
Review by: Marilou R, April 2012
Enjoyed our tour esp.the last part were we went to the painted oldest Church in Hawaii.
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