Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park at a Glance
The Big Island has no shortage of historical wonders, but
few can match the significance, or the local charm, of the
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Located on
the island’s western coast, the park one served as home
to the alii or royals of the Kona District. Its location
on the shores of Honaunau Bay is no accident: the palace
grounds doubled as a canoe landing and the bay was a source
of drinking water.
But the bigger attraction here is the smaller, slightly
decrepit place beside the palace. The puuhonua was
an ancient place of refuge for Hawaiians who broke the law.
Offenders must reach the place without being hunted down,
and as a reward, they are given an absolution ceremony and
released back into the community.
On one end of the property is a long stone slab that might
look pretty normal at first glance. This is the Keoua Stone,
named after the high chief Keoua who used it as a resting
place. A short walk from here, you will find the Hale o
Keawe, the mausoleum of the royals. It currently holds the
remains of 23 alii.
The park is also home to a large population of honu,
or the famous green sea turtles. Most of them take refuge
in the Keoneele, a royal canoe landing once forbidden to
commoners. If you’re up for a walk, you can follow them
out to the bay and watch them play in the shallow waters.
Nearby is the Old Heiau, one of the oldest structures in
the palace.Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical
Park in Bullet Points
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Location
Address: Highway 11 three miles past Junction 360,
Hawai'i(BigIsland), Turn right at Honaunau Post Office
on Route 160, Honaunau, HI 96726 (United States
Government Department of Interior: National Historical
Park-Honaunau), HI 96726
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Map
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Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Weather
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Now
68°F
Windchill:
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Location: Honaunau, HI, US
Wind: 6 mph NE
Humidity: 76%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 29.97 in falling
Sunrise: 6:28 am
Sunset: 6:35 pm
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Sat
Hi: 80°F
Low: 70°F
Partly Cloudy
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Sun
Hi: 81°F
Low: 71°F
Partly Cloudy
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Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Photos
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Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Reviews
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