History, culture, food, fun await on a 'Super Raft' ride up Kona coast

Smiles abound in the Body Glove "Super Raft Tour" along the historical Kona Coast.
We had our eye out for dolphins, whales and other boats, while we learned of Hawaii's
fascinating history from a trained scholar. We had a fabulous sunset a bit later.

BODY GLOVE RAFT RIDE BLENDS HISTORY, SCENERY, FABULOUS FOOD AND FUN

 

A skilled historian and storyteller gives history to adventure
seekers aboard Body Glove's Super Raft, a fun expedition.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

YOU'LL  FEEL as if you're almost flying as you glide over the waves along the fabled Kona Coat, on Ocean Adventures Body Glove Super Raft.

We'd experienced the outfit's lovely catamaran a time or two -- always fun and relaxing -- but she's in dry dock awaiting the next season right now. So we booked the company's "super raft" for a lovely sunset dinner cruise. Besides combining history with beautiful scenery, it featured a poke bowl as tasty as any we've had in many years of sampling the island's fabulous ahi tuna.

body glove THE BEAUTIFUL Kona coast came alive for our group of 15 nature and history enthusiasts as we zipped at 35 mph, leaving Kailua-Kona and traveling up the coast to historic bays and inlets. Our stops included  Kealakekua Bay, where on Valentine's Day, 1779, Captain James Cook died at the hands of an incensed crowd during his third Pacific voyage. Historians tell us he likely had it coming.

A Kona coast rainbow is a spectacular sight.

We learned that he and his entourage were initially greeted as gods. The indigenous people welcomed him and his men for several weeks of feasting, frolicking with the women, enjoying island pleasures. When he left the bay on his ships "Resolution'' and ''Discovery,'' he returned a few days later seeking repair for one of the vessels. Returning to the Big Island this time, his welcome was less enthusiastic. When Hawaiians supposedly took one of his longboats, he made a huge mistake.  He decided to take dramatic revenge and hold ransom Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the ruling chief (aliʻi nui).  The highly regarded chief reigned over the entire island of Hawaii and was a popular ruler. The decision to hold royalty in exchange for a small longboat was the fatal error of Cook's final voyage, and led to his death.

Setting out from the dock, one enjoys seeing
locals on the water. In season, dolphins
and sometimes whales are also spotted.

A delicious poke bowl is
served during a peaceful
sunset aboard the raft.

THE STORY was expressively told at the site of Cook's demise by Body Glove's animated on-board cultural expert, who spoke at several picturesque stops along the way to the island's most famous bay. 

The company is well known on the islands and

The Body Glove "Super Raft" awaits at the harbor in
Kailua-Kona, where it takes passengers on several fun rides.

Body Glove has garnered raves from customers and outdoor enthusiasts, water sports aficionados and critics.  It offers a variety of experiences from snorkel and dinner cruises, and in whale season -- December to March -- one of the highest ranked humpback expeditions, where we've also seen spinner dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, manta rays and more.

Body Glove is also "nature and culture conscious" and travels with trained naturalists and Hawaiian history experts, a real plus.

bodyglovehawaii.com; 800 551-8911

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers are exploring
the seven seas on NCL vessels, here last week on a
trans-Atlantic crossing from Orlando to Lisbon. 

 UP NEXT: Our travelers pay homage to their Scandinavian roots-(Keller's mother was 100 per cent Swedish and Cookie's maternal grandfather was 100 per cent Norwegian.) They've logged 133 cruises, recently on Norwegian Cruise Line's Bliss and Getaway. They've booked passage on NCL's new Viva,  one of the most lavishly appointed vessels afloat and the latest in NCL's Prima Class. Godparent for Viva is singer Luis Fonsi, five-time Latin Grammy-winning singer. Cookie and Keller are excited to be on board for the Viva inaugural, remembering to explore, learn and live. Catch them weekly for a fresh spin on travel, the arts, nature, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com