Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, along the lava flats of the Kona Coast south of Kailua-Kona, protects a puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. A person who broke the kapu, a defeated warrior or a civilian in time of battle could escape harm by reaching its boundaries. The Great Wall, a massive masonry wall, encloses the puʻuhonua, and nearby are the Royal Grounds, where aliʻi lived and held ceremonies by the protected waters of Hōnaunau Bay. For centuries this was a primary religious and political center of the traditional district of Kona. Kiʻi stand watch over Hale o Keawe in the Royal Grounds, and a walk around the grounds leads to ʻĀleʻaleʻa Heiau. The park also takes in a historic coastal trail and the remains of Kiʻilae Village, an abandoned farming and fishing village. Cultural demonstrators share traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts through the week. This is a sacred place: stay on the marked trails and paths, do not walk on or climb walls or platforms, and take nothing but photographs. There is no ocean access inside the park; snorkelers use Two Step on Hōnaunau Bay, outside the sacred grounds. It is usually hot and sunny, so morning and late afternoon are cooler times to visit, and the park does not accept cash.
When to go
Morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler.
No ocean access within the park; stay on marked trails and off walls and platforms.
