Our first excursion on the Big Island during our February 2014 visit was to Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. This 1160 acre park is located about four miles south of the Kona International Airport on the makai or ocean side of Hawaii route 19, Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. The park was established in 1978 to preserve, protect and interpret traditional native Hawaiian activities.
The small open-air Hale Ho'okipa Visitor Contact Station includes an enclosed storage room and restrooms as well as exhibits, a very small bookstore and an area for native volunteers to demonstrate traditional activities. The Ala Mauka Makai (Mountain-Ocean Trail) meanders 0.7 miles from the contact station to Honokōhau Beach. Along the way, the trail passes native plants, a fish pond, an animal pen, and ancient rock carvings.
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| Hale Ho'okipa Visitor Contact Station |
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| Ala Mauka Makai (Mountain-Ocean Trail) |
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| Native plant in bloom |
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| Ancient ruins and newer lava |
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| Noni plant |
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| The trail passes over solidified lava flows |
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| An old tree struggles to survive in the nearly non-existent soil |
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| Fencing for an animal pen |
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| Ripples solidified in stone |
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| A looping boardwalk preserves teh ancient carvings |
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| Carving of a man |
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| This carving of a man appears upside down along the trail |
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| The papamu (game board) for Kōnane |
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| The trail leads to a beach of striking contrast: white sand on black lava |
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| A replica Hale ali'i (house of the chiefs) |
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| ‘Aī’ōpio (fishtrap) |
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| Lava and sand along the shore |
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| Shallow lagoon |
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| Honokōhau Beach |
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| Green sea turtle in the water |
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| Exposed lava flows |
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| Another sea turtle |
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| Sea turtle 102 |
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| Invasive cattle egret |
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| Honokōhau Beach |
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| Green sea turtles on the beach |
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/kaho/index.htm.
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