Journey back to ancient Hawaiʻi and walk in the footsteps the ancestors. On this first stop of the self-guided walking tour, explore the Royal Grounds, which were once reserved for the chiefdom of Kona.
The 10th stop on the walking tour takes you to an unassuming bench-like boulder that is actually a relic that crosses the era of myth into the historical period, a memory from a distant past.
Stop number 11 on the walking tour is the ʻĀleʻaleʻa which was the primary heiau (temple) for the puʻuhonua before Hale o Keawe. Not fully restored, you must use your imagination to picture the thatched temple houses, carved kiʻi images, and wooden palisade that would top this platform.
The 12th stop on the walking tour tells a heart-stirring tale of love, regret, and power in Old Hawaiʻi. This rock is mentioned in a story of Queen Kaʻahumanu and King Kamehameha the Great.
Stop 13 takes you to an ancient kōnane papamū (playing surface) weathered with time. Upon close inspect you will notice nine rows of eleven carved depressions for playing pieces.
Stop number 14 on the walking tour reminds us to tread carefully when exploring our island as what may appear to be a mere pile of rocks might be the remains of a great heiau (temple) site.
The 15th stop on the walking tour takes you to two tranquil lokoiʻa or fishponds that were once meticulously and sustainably managed to provide food for the aliʻi (royalty) who visited the Royal Grounds of Hōnaunau.
On stop 16 of the walking tour see the two open-air long houses called hālau. In ancient Hawaiʻi these structures would have been meeting places, places for storing canoe, and places of learning. The tradition continues today as cultural practitioners use this place to pass on their manaʻo (thought) and ʻike (wisdom).
A small reconstruction of the Hale o Keawe heiau lets you see the interior of a typical hale poki (consecrated house) structure and admire the ingenuity of traditional Hawaiian building techniques.
A game of strategy and wits, kōnane was more than a game of leisure, it was also a political tool, often used to settle disputes. Test your wits and try a game today!
The fourth stop on the walking tour shows ancient bowls called kānoa that were carved into the lava rock. These subtle archeological features remind us of the active lifestyle engaged in by the native Hawaiians of old.
While the area appears tranquil today, evidence of a more tumultuous past is hidden in the lava rock. Can you spot it? The fifth stop on the walking tour lets you take a closer look at tree molds.
For centuries, this protected cove was used as a canoe landing for visiting Hawaiian chiefs. At this stop on the walking tour, learn about traditions associated with this canoe landing and the natural resources protected here today.
The 7th stop on the walking tour takes you to one of the most impressive features in the park, the Great Wall. See an extraordinary example of uhau humu pōhaku (Hawaiian dry-set masonry), built by stacking interlocking rocks without the use of mortar.
Hale o Keawe is perhaps the most iconic scene at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau with thatched hale poki, intricately carved kiʻi, and lele (offering tower). This wahi kapu (sacred place) remains an active place of worship for Native Hawaiians today.
One of the most well-preserve puʻuhonua, or place of refuge, within the islands, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau served as a safe haven for breakers of kapu, defeated warriors, and non-combatants.
The rugged lava shoreline of the South Kona coast beckons you to explore the backcountry trails of the park. Have you ever imagined visiting a historic abandoned Hawaiian village? Come and experience this special and unique area. Step back in time. The ocean will whisper ancient stories from the past as you pass by places used by people of long ago.
Can you imagine sledding down a lava rock slope on a sled no wider than 12 inches? This hōlua was used by the aliʻi (royalty) in the area to prove their agility and bravery as they sledded down the steep slope.
The stone walls of historic enclosures aren't the only thing that lines the trail at this location. Curbstones along the edges of the trail help delineate the trail for pack animals.
See the Alahaka Ramp on the 1871 Trail section of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Imagine trying to scale this 20-foot cliffside without the improvement of this constructed stone ramp!
Learn about the intense history of Hawaiian culture from the first Polynesian voyagers to the end of the kapu system with this blended audio story and artistic mural.
The kiʻi images found within the inner court of Hale o Keawe are the focal point of the heiau (temple). These images are all forms of Lono that represent the various functions of the Puʻuhonua. Learn about which forms of Lono these images represent.
A gorgeous view of the expansive South Kona coastline and Keanaeʻe Cliffs awaits those who make the trek out to the top of the Alahaka Ramp on the 1871 Trail.
This iconic pair represents the akua (gods) Kāne (Kiei) and Kanaloa (Hālō), two of the four major akua in the Hawaiian pantheon. Throughout Polynesia, Kāne and Kanaloa are acknowledged as the gods of creation and life. The pair is represented twice at Hale o Keawe; in their iconic setting looking across Hōnaunau bay, and again immediately outside of the entrance to the inner precinct of the temple.
An image of great importance at the heiau, Kū-i-ke-ālai is "the one who guards the way" and a protector of the heiau. Crucial to the ceremonial function of the heiau, Kū-i-ke-ālai ensures that the sacred confines of Hale o Keawe are not breached; what belongs outside the heiau does not enter, and that which must remain in the heiau does not encroach on the outside world. Kū-i-ke-ālai is one particular aspect of the akua Kū, one of the four major gods in the Hawaiian pantheon.
A guardian god of governance and warfare, Kū-kaʽilimoku was a patron deity of the ruling aliʽi on the island of Hawaiʽi. See this carved kiʻi in the Royal Grounds near the kōnane papamū (playing surface).
Lono-o-Makakhiki is one particular aspect of the god Lono – one of four major deities in the Hawaiian pantheon. The god Lono is associated with agriculture, rain, storms, fertility, peace and more. Associated with the passage of time, Lono-o-makakhiki is not to be confused with Lono-i-ka-Makahiki, a patron god of the annual Makahiki festival on the island of Hawaiʽi.
Lono-ʽilikai, or “Lono-on-the-surface-of-the-sea,” stands directly over the area where the land and the ocean meet. In this location, Lono-ʽilikai watches over those arriving by way of the sea.
The entrance station at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is an essential starting point for any park visit and is where you are required to purchase an entrance pass or present an existing pass to gain access to the park.
Coconut trees, ocean views, tide pools, and more! The picnic area is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. Located south of the Great Wall, the picnic area is a fantastic place to relax, have a beach picnic, explore the tide pools in the lava rock, and experience the iconic South Kona coast.
Feel the sand beneath your feet, hear the wind rustle coconut fronds, and see ocean waves break on the rocky lava shore. This short connector trail takes you along the sandy coast then turn mauka (towards the mountain) to connect with the longer 1871 Trail.
