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At Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park visitors can immerse themselves in Hawaiian history and culture all while enjoying the scenic beauty of coastal Hawaiʻi. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau strives for full and equal participation for all visitors. By using principals of universal design, the park is committed to providing an ever-increasing level of accessibility. From rehabilitating older facilities to updating publications and media, accessibility has become a key component of all projects. FacilitiesVisitor Center ComplexPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Visitor CenterThe visitor center has an information desk, Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) bookstore, and exhibits. It is fully accessible with accessible parking spaces and accessible restrooms nearby. Interpretive Wall ExhibitThe interpretive wall exhibit blends interpretive graphics and architetural design with a recorded interpretive story conveying the intense history of Hawaiian culture. A transcript is available for each of the three audio stories along with interpretive descriptions of images on the wall. Story #1
Eia Hawaii, he moku, he kanaka He kanaka Hawaii e- He kama na Kahiki He pua alii mai Kapaahu Mai Moaulanuiakea Kanaloa- Famous amongst our people are these words, uttered by navigator-priest Kamahualele to his companion, ruling alii Kalani Moikeha, on their return voyage to Hawaii from Tahiti. Here is Hawaii, and island, a man. Hawaii is a man. A child of Kahiki. A chiefly offspring from Kapaahu, from Moaulanuiakea Kanaloa. Though legends may vary as to the causes of our movement, that we did so in dynamic waves of migration to and from the South Pacific, there can be no doubt. Behold the waa kaulua, those twin-hulled Ocean vessels on which our master navigators crossed the currents of time and space. Behold the aumakua, the ancestral guardians through whom knowledge may be kept and perseverance gained. By the knowledge of our ancestors, our people cultivated a vast civilization across island words, connected by the ever-moving currents of Moananuiakea, the great Oceanic expanse that links our island nations to one another. Story #2 Puni ka moku o Kaialea ke kilo Naha Nuuhiwa lele Polapola O Kahiko ke kumu aina Nana i mahele kaawale na moku Moku ka aholawaia a Kahai I okia e Kukanaloa Pahu na aina na moku Moku i ka ohe kapu a Kanaloa O Haumea Manukahikele O Kalani Moikeha nana e noho- The workings of the chiefs are the division of the land and sea, and the distribution of its resources. Our chiefs are called Alii – the “little flame” – the ones such as Kaialea who separated the lands at Nuuhiwa and traveled from Polapola. The ancient source of that which feeds. Who divided and spread amongst island realms. With a keen understanding of the natural and supernatural, our alii divided the lands for cultivation, habitation, and the alignment of the heavens and earth. From an understanding built upon foundations of ancestral wisdom the kapu is established, the sacred law which kept order and maintained balance within our Oceanic world. Story #3 Noho kuu lani ia Hawaii A ola! Ola o kalana ola! Ola ke alii ke kahuna Ola ke kilo ke kauwa Noho ia Hawaii a lu lana- Our alii came to dwell upon Hawaii. And there was life, buoyant life. Life for the chiefs and the priests. Life for the seers and those in servitude. Here they dwell and may be at rest. In our island world we seek order and balance through kapu and within that practice too, find sanctuary for the cultivation of life. That is the meaning and importance of Puuhonua. A place of healing and restoration. Where kuleana – that deep sense of responsibility and honor – cultivates value in life. A place where the ancient murmur speaks with the wisdom of our ancestors, so that their traditions may be remembered. As we shift our sails through the ever-driving currents of change, we remember who we are and where we came from and with that knowledge cultivate life across generations. OVERVIEW: Interpretive Wall Exhibit
This interpretive wall exhibit blends interpretive graphics with a recorded interpretive story and serves as an introduction to the intense history of Hawaiian culture. The wall acts as a timeline with the earliest event of Polynesian voyaging on the far left to the unification of the islands and the end of the kapu system at the end on the far right. The exhibit is spread along an open-air breezeway that leads to the Royal Grounds. The wall is divided into five panels with every other panel set back a few feet adding depth to the exhibit. Artwork on the interpretive wall is comprised of a variety of materials: painted ceramic tile mosaics, carved wooden images, and 3D relief images. The background of the wall is painted a bright golden yellow color and most of the tile designs have a bright, sky-blue background color. Story #1: Oli Image #1 of 4: Polynesian Voyaging Material: Painted tiles Descripton: Voyagers in traditional clothing sail in a double-hulled canoe, or waʻa, with woven sail and A-frame shelter. Beneath the canoe swims a large white shark. In the sky above, two translucent figures of a goddess with long flowing hair and a god watch over the voyagers. IMAGE #2 of 4: Snow-Capped Mountains Material: 3D metal image Description: The snow-capped forms of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the islands two tallest volcanoes, appear as if seen from a great distance. Below the white snow-cap, the mountains appear blue with clouds near the base of the shorter mountain. IMAGE #3 of 4: Sun Material: Carved wood Description: A carved wood image of the sun with facial features—eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks. This image is located above the snow-capped mountains and to the right of the Polynesian voyagers. IMAGE #4 of 4: Canoe Plants Material: Painted tiles Description: This image is comprised of four separate tiled images of different sizes. Various canoe plants, or plants brought by Polynesian voyagers are shown on the tiled images. At the top left, with a blue sky background is a group of three coconut palm trees. Below and to the right is a small image with a brown background of yellow and brown ipu, gourds, with associated vines and leaves. To the right of the ipu, is a depiction of kō, sugarcane, with its long, thin leaves and sturdy trunk. Below these three images is a compilation of various canoe plants on a brown background. Starting on the left and moving to the right the images are as follows. A coconut palm with dangling coconuts stands tall over groundcover ferns. A dry-set masonry wall with interlocking stones of various shades of black and gray has two yellow ipu with trailing vines on it. To the left of the wall is another image of the kō plant. The image continues to the left with only one row of tiles (the other images are 4 tiles high) and shows the triangular-shaped leaves of kalo, or taro. Story #2 Pu Kani IMAGE #1 of 5: Blowing Pū Material: Carved wood Description: A square of carved wood depicts a face with lips drawn together as if blowing. Just to the right of the carved square is a carved image of a conch shell, pū. IMAGE #2 of 5: Aliʻi Nui Material: Painted tiles Description: A man in a white malo, loincloth, with traditional geometric patterns stands tall with head turned to the left. A red and yellow feathered cape drapes over his shoulders and yellow feathered mahiole helmet adorns his head, showing that he is an aliʻi or Hawaiian royalty. IMAGE #3 of 5: Prostrated Commoners Material: Carved wood, background: worn, rounded lava stones Description: Three separate carved images of people lay prostrated, face-down with arms extended forward over a background of worn, rounded lava rocks. This image appears below the image of the aliʻi and the figures appear to be prostrating before him. IMAGE #4 of 5: Aliʻi Entourage Material: Carved wood Description: Three separate carved images of men standing tall to the left of the Aliʻi Nui image. Two of the men are holding long spears and the other holds a kāhili, or feathered royal standard. One of the men holding spears holds a conch shell trumpet to his lips, as if he were blowing pū to announce the approach of the aliʻi nui. IMAGE #5 of 5: Kapu Breaker Material: Combination of carved wooden images and painted tiles Description: This scene depicts a man, who presumably broke kapu, standing in the middle of the scene with various warriors pointing in his direction. On the left there are four separate carved wooden images of warriors. The top two appear to be signaling others as to the location of the kapu breaker. One stands with arm extended towards the kapu breaker and blows pū with the other hand. The other stands with one arm raised. The pair below are both standing with one arm extended out towards the kapu breaker and one holding an upright spear. The painted tile image of the kapu breaker is set in the center of the scene. He is wearing a white malo loincloth a looks out of the corner of his eyes at an approaching warrior with spear in-hand and pointed at the kapu breaker. The final portion of the scene (again in painted tiles), on the far-right shows a malo-clad warrior with spear in-hand running toward the kapu breaker. To his right stands an aliʻi with red and yellow cape and helmet accompanied by a kāhili bearer with arm extended towards the warrior as if ordering the warrior to strike. Story #3: Refuge IMAGE #1 of 2: Refuge Material: Painted tiles Description: A large mural covering the majority of this panel of the wall shows a group of people taking refuge in the puʻuhonua. Men wear malos, loincloths, women wear paʻu, skirts around their waists with bare chests, and children are naked. From left to right the images are as follows. A group of three warrior men with a small dog at their feet. One appears to be injured, holding a walking stick with his arm around the middle warrior, who appears to be helping him walk. The third warrior holds a spear. To the right a woman sits on the ground holding the arm of a toddling child. Another group of warriors stand next to kō plants. One holds a spear, another a small container, and the third, bent over, holds himself up with a walking stick. The last grouping of people on the far righthand side of the mural shows women and children. One child crouches down to play with a chicken. Two other children stand playing nearby. A group of three women watch over the children. A taller woman stands next to this group holding a child in her arm. IMAGE #2 of 2: Kamehameha and Hawaiʻi Island Material: Blue painted tile background, relief map of island, and carved wooden image Description: Sky blue painted tiles form the background of this mural, fully covered the painted yellow wall. A 3D relief map shows the island of Hawaiʻi with Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes appearing prominently. Colors range from white at the tops of the volcanoes green below, and brown around the shorelines. To the right of the map is a carved wooden image of Kamehameha the Great in mahiole helmet and lei niho palaoa, a whale tooth pendant. He wears a malo and holds his arms to his side. Royal Grounds & Puʻuhonua Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is currently working on updating facilities to allow for accessible access to the Royal Grounds and Puʻuhonua. In 2016, it came to the attention of park management that the ramp to the Royal Grounds was built too steep to be ADA accessible. For the safety of visitors, rentals of beach wheelchairs have been put on hold until safe, accessible access is available. A project to install an ADA accessible ramp began in August 2020 and completion of the project is slated for 2021. While the park completes this project, the Royal Grounds and Puʻuhonua are accessible via the virtual tour that gives visitors 360-degree views and interpretive information.
Picnic AreaThe picnic area is located south of the visitor center parking lot and can be accessed via a short unpaved road. The parking lot is unpaved, hard-packed earth and mostly level. Accessible portable toilets are available for use. Picnic sites are unpaved with coarse coral sand and occasional rocks and roots. Accessible picnic tables are available at each picnic site. Publications and MediaPark BrochureThe park brochure is available in Braille, large print, a variety of languages, and a text-only audio description is available. Park VideosAll park-produced videos available in-park or online include closed captions and an audio-described version. When showing in the park amphitheater, the park film always has captions. An audio-described version can be played upon request. Self-Guided TourThe text-based self-guided walking tour is available in the park brochure. A cell-phone audio tour of the same area is also available. Information on how to access the audio tour can be found on the Self-Guided Tour page or on signage at the park. Virtual TourA virtual tour of the Royal Grounds and Puʻuhonua is available online, free of charge. Service AnimalsService animals are allowed in national parks. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition. Beach Wheelchairs and WalkersBeach wheelchairs and walkers are now available upon request. Please speak with one of our Park Rangers to go over the rules and regulations regarding how and where they should be used. |
Last updated: October 24, 2024