Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Visitors encounter a cultural and spiritual experience at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, where the spirit of the Kanaka Maoli people flows.

Along the western coastline of the Island of Hawai'i lies the hot, rugged lava of Kaloko-Honokohau. Some people find it difficult to understand why the ancient Hawaiians chose to settle upon these stark lava fields. The reason was, perhaps, a spiritual one, for there was a spirit in Kaloko-Honokohau. The Hawaiians who first came to the area felt its presence in every rock and tree, in the gentle waters of shallow bays and in the tradewinds that gently swept across the lava flow.

Established for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture, Kaloko-Honokohau is the site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement which encompasses portions of four different ahupua'a, or traditional sea to mountain land divisions. Resources include fishponds, kahua (house site platforms), ki'i pohaku (petroglyphs), holua (stone slide), and heiau (religious site).