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Learning About Hawaii’s History On The Big Island

Matthew Brumley
/
KNKX
A ki’I, or carved wooden figure, on the shoreline at Pu’uhonua O H?naunau.";s:3

KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley is in Hawaii this week, exploring the Big Island and learning about its history. 

The Big Island was in the news this past summer because of eruptions from Kilauea, one of the volcanos that makes up the island’s land mass. The eruptions scared off some visitors, but Brumley says not only has the volcano quieted down, the area that was affected by the eruptions is relatively small.

Here are a couple of the places he mentions on this week’s edition of “Going Places.”

Pu’uhonua O H?naunau

The National Historical Park is the site of a sacred place in traditional Hawaiian life. It was a place of forgiveness, where people who broke the law could come to seek clemency. Reaching this location meant you would be saved.

The Captain Cook monument

Captain James Cook explored extensive parts of the Pacific, including the coastline of North America. An obelisk marks the place where he was killed in 1779. The colonization of Hawaii is an important part of its history, and one that should be treated with care. 

That a monument exists to Cook is, itself, controversial.

"Going Places" is 88.5's weekly exploration of travel. Our travel expert, Matthew Brumley, is co-founder of Earthbound Expeditions on Bainbridge Island, which provides small group travel to clients including KNKX. Never miss an episode again. Subscribe to Going Places with iTunes Google Play or Stitcher.

Ed Ronco is a former KNKX producer and reporter and hosted All Things Considered for seven years.