Painted church

St. Benedict's Church, south of Kona.

I love little country churches, and there are plenty on Hawai'i's Big Island. This is one of two "painted churches." You go through the portico into a tiny space all painted with religious scenes. I particularly remember one from Hell (possibly inspired by the nearby volcano), but others are happier. The supporting posts are swirls of color like candy canes. Ceiling is painted too --no inch untouched. And no doors: it's built like a three-sided box, with the open porch on the fourth. Over to your left is a steep cemetery, with graves marching down to the Pacific. But of course, not all the way down. It's far.