A day at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park  is a 1160 acre park in North Kona with an ancient Hawaiian fishpond and  unique stone fish trap.  The park has three entrances: the north entrance road to Kaloko fishpond, the center entrance to the Visitor’s center, and the south entrance, within Kona’s Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, to the ‘Ai’opio fish trap.

Kaloko fishpond

Kaloko fishpond, the widest and largest fishpond in the state of Hawaii, is on the northern end of the park.  

The fishpond is accessible by a rough, dirt road behind a gate just north of the Visitor’s Center gate on Highway 19.  

Dirt road to Kaloko fish pond from Highway 19

The road is deeply rutted which makes for a bumpy ride, but is passable with a regular car

Rutted dirt road to Kaloko fishpond

From the road, you can see the old “King’s Trail” that runs along the coast.  The road also passes by ancient rock walls and foundations.

Kings Trail

At the end of the road is a parking lot just a few steps away from the fishpond and a small white sand beach. 

Kaloko fishpond parking lot

Kaloko fish pond is very large with a massive rock wall that encloses the fishpond.

Kaloko fishpond rock wall

The wall was restored after 13 years of effort using ancient Hawaiian building techniques.

Local Hawaiians with the knowledge of how to create kuapa walls by setting interlocking stones, without shaping or using cement, rebuilt the impressive wall.  You can walk on top of  the solid and stable structure and look down at the pounding surf.  Each stone has been perfectly placed and sits neatly and securely within all the other stones.  

Ancient Hawaii stone building

The mason workers say that they “listen” to where the stone wants to be placed.  The recreation of a stone wall of this scale and complexity will hopefully retain the knowledge of Uhau Humu Pohaku (Hawaiian Dry Stack Masonry) on Hawaii Island.

Honokohau Beach

The ‘Ai’opio fishtrap and Honokohau white sand beach are located at the southern end of the park.  There is a trail to it from the Visitor’s center or easier access from a  south park entrance within Kona’s Honokohau Boat Harbor.  The harbor entrance is at Kealakehe Parkway off Highway 19.  The palm tree lined Kealakehe Parkway has a plaque on the side of the road installed in 1964 recognizing the Hawaiian Honokohau Settlement as a National Historic Landmark. 

Plaque in Honokohau Harbor

The park entrance is located near Kona Sailing Club which can be reached by taking a right turn at the first intersection  on Kealakehe Parkway road in the harbor.  

South  gate to the National Park in the Harbor

A large parking lot is located on the left and the park gate is located on the right.   

Path to fishpond

Pedestrian and animals on a leash can pass through the gate to an unpaved park trail that leads to the coastline.  The trail is rocky from the gate to the beach, not wheelchair accessible, but only about a half mile to the beach. 

White sand beach and canoe house

The beach in front of the fish trap has a restored canoe house and shade for a picnic or enjoying the view.  Some people bring chairs  and spend the day snorkeling or fishing. 

'Ai'opio stone fishtrap

The ‘Ai’opio fishtrap is an usual stone structure in a 1.7 acre pond.  The stone walls surrounding the pond were low enough to allow fish in during high tide but high enough to trap the fish at low tide.  The fish trap captured and stored fish as opposed to the fish ponds where fish were raised.  

Maliu Point

At the south end of the beach is Maliu Point Resource Area, a protected historical area with stone walls and remains of a temple.  From the point, there is a great view of the open ocean.

Channel in Kona Honokohau Harbor

An alternate walk from the park back to the parking lot is near Mailu Point, where a gate leads to the side of Kona’s Honokohau Small Boat Harbor channel.  You can walk along the channel where the boats enter and leave the harbor. 

Visitors Center in Kaloko Honokohau National Park

The Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park Visitor’s Center is located 4.2 miles south of Kona International airport on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway (Highway 19) and a half a mile north of the entrance to Kona's Honokohau Harbor.  The center has a large parking area, bathrooms, and a small store.  Park information and maps are available and a park ranger is on site to talk story.  Entrance is free. The gate is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  (park website:  nps.gov/kaho)

For descriptions and directions to hundreds of other interesting places to visit on Hawaii Island, check out Your Ideal Hawaii Island Vacation  guide in black and white or color versions.