Inventory and Monitoring at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

Remnants of a centuries-old wall at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
Remnants of a centuries-old wall at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

NPS Photo/K. Weisenborn

Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is located on one of the driest places in the Hawaiian Islands, the northwest coast of the island of Hawaiʻi. King Kamehameha the Great's heiau, or temple, dominates the coastline, scattered coastal trees and grasses cover much of the landscape, and a small freshwater oasis juts into the waters of Pelekane Bay.

The park holds the state record for the lowest annual precipitation at 2.28 inches. Because of the desert climate, the diversity of flora and fauna is limited. Although many plant species within the park have been introduced since European contact, some trees such as the kukui date back to early Polynesian settlement.

Native flora found in this tropical desert include pili grass, milo, and ‘ilima. The only endemic terrestrial mammal in the islands, the ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat), is occasionally seen. Bird life in the park is usually limited to introduced species; however, migratory shore birds and the pueo (Hawaiian owl) can occasionally be seen. Mano paʻele (blacktip reef sharks) are often observed by park visitors, along with honu (green sea turtles), naiʻa (spinner dolphins), and koholā (humpback whales).

What's Monitored Here

  • Observing alpine climate at Haleakalā National Park
    Climate

    Climate is widely recognized as a major driver for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems

  • On of many anchialine pools and cultural sites at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park with dev
    Landscape Dynamics

    Landscape dynamics monitoring in parks provides information on land use and land cover change

  • Fresh water quality monitoring in a stream in Haleakalā National Park
    Water Quality - Fresh & Brackish

    Fresh and brackish water quality monitoring occurs in places like streams and anchialine pools

A nēnē goose
Reports & Publications

PACN I&M Inventory and Monitoring Reports, Protocols, and Articles from Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

Observing a Trematolobelia wimmeri in Hawai‘i
Park Species List

Discovering species in our parks

Last updated: September 12, 2024