37. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii

               Hello, and welcome back to our blog on the National Park Service.  In this post we will be making another stop in the 50^th State, at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.

Entrance sign

BACKGROUND:

               The Hawaiian Islands are dominated by the volcanoes that formed them.  For ancient Hawaiians, much of the terrain of the islands, particularly the Island of Hawaii itself, could be inhospitable.  In order to survive on the rocky lava fields, the Hawaiians resorted to creative methods to sustain their villages.  On the western shore of the island, in the shadow of the mountain Hualalai, the Hawaiians established villages in the Kaloko and Honokau Ahupua’a, land divisions the equivalent of townships.  Here they built two large fishponds, augmented by a tidal fishtrap to feed their population amongst the barren lava rocks.

A photo illustrating the barren conditions and lava fields at the park

THE PARK:

               Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is located along a stretch of coastline on the west coast of the Island of Hawaii, between the town of Kailua-Kona, and Kona International Airport.  The park preserves a large area of land surrounding the ruins of an ancient Hawaiian settlement.  While the primary focus of interpretation and visitor attractions are the ruins and the park’s picturesque coastline, the vast majority of the land within the park boundaries is barren lava rock, formed by flows from the nearby mountain, Hualalai.  An open-air visitor center is located near Hawaii highway route 19.  A nearly one-mile trail connects the visitor center to the shoreline near the southern end of the park where a canoe house is reconstructed, as well as the ruins of a Heiau (Hawaiian for temple) and the Ai’opio fish trap.  The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which runs along the west coast of the island of Hawaii connecting to two other NPS units, runs north from the fish trap past two large fishponds.  A second entrance is near the southern end of the park, which is adjacent to a small harbor for local pleasure craft.

The reconstructed canoe house.  The fish trap can be seen in the background.

TRAVEL TIPS:

               Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is a roughly five to ten-minute drive from either Kailua-Kona, or Kona International Airport, with the main entrance to the park directly off Hawaii route 19, the primary highway on the island of Hawaii’s west coast.  The park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, although the visitor center is open only from 8:30am to 4pm.  There is no entrance fee. 

If visitors choose to hike from the visitor center to the beach over the one-mile trail, it is recommended to bring water as conditions can be somewhat hot due to the barren landscape of the lava rock.  Also, while at the beach, visitors are likely to encounter sea turtles.  All visitors are advised to please heed the warning signs at the park and to not disturb the sea turtles, maintaining a distance of twenty feet.  Ignoring these signs and disturbing the sea turtles is a Federal crime due to their status as an endangered species.

The park, including the trail from the visitor center to the beach is handicapped accessible.  Passport stamps can be found at the visitor center.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

A memorial to NPS Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who was killed in action during an altercation at the park in 1999.

The ruined bases of small structures used to store food in moist conditions among the barren lava fields.  The structure at left is the visitor center.

An example of petroglyphs seen along the trail from the visitor center to the beach.

The shoreline at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, looking north.

A closer view of the rectangular fish traps that were used to trap fish at low tide in order to provide food for the ancient inhabitants.

An area of the park, as of the time of this writing, that was undergoing a wetlands restoration project near the Aimakapa fish pond.

A trio of sea turtles on the beach at the park.  Please see above under "Travel Tips" for additional information regarding sea turtles.