Lili‘uokalani Park is located in Hilo, the biggest city on the east side of the island of Hawai‘i. Sometimes June and I sit in the park at dusk and look out at the ocean, which is beautiful on a clear day. It’s very relaxing.

We can see Pepe‘ekeo Point from there. It juts out into the ocean across the bay. If we look along the slope, inland from the Point, we see the tall eucalyptus trees that stand at the edge of the farm. Hamakua Springs Country Farms is located 11 miles north along the Hamakua coast—or right across the bay near Pepe‘ekeo Point, if you’re sitting on a bench at Lili‘uokalani Park.

This is Coconut Island, as seen from Lili‘uokalani Park. Moku Ola, the island’s traditional Hawaiian name, means “Island of Health.” It’s said to have been named for an underwater rock that possesses healing powers. The island, along with some of the adjacent shoreline, was once part of a heiau, or temple complex, and also a place of refuge.

It is one of the most tranquil places on the island, and in that way it is still a healing place. We are fortunate to have such beauty where we live.