Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii

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Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii

Official page of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Island of Hawaii. THIS IS A FEE FREE PARK
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On the lava flows the people discovered a spirit...

To survive in a hot and arid environment the native Hawaiians (kanaka maoli) used ancient fishing skills, including the building of fishponds, and the knowledge of the location of precious fresh water (wai) that flows into the many brackish pools throughout the park. The spirit of the people (poe) and the knowledge of the elders (kupuna) create

d a tradition of respect and reverence for this area. This is a place you can hear the voice of the land and generations of people away from the din of modern technology and commerce … Just Listen!

06/02/2026

Internship opportunity!

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is currently recruiting for two internship positions through the Student Conservation Association.

These full-time, 6-month internships will focus on resource monitoring and visitor education. Primary duties will be based at the ‘Ai‘ōpio Contact Station at Honokōhau Beach. This area of the park includes significant natural and cultural resources and receives heavy visitor use.

The positions will help educate visitors, prevent resource damage, monitor wildlife activity, and support stewardship efforts in one of the park’s busiest areas. ‘Ai‘ōpio is known for basking and foraging green sea turtles and is often visited by the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Learn more and apply here:

https://myjobs.adp.com/scacareers/cx/job-details?__tx_annotation=false&reqId=5001200429206

06/01/2026

Noni is a canoe plant, originally brought to Hawaiʻi by Polynesian voyagers. Its fruit and leaves were valued in lāʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian healing practices), one reason why it was carefully carried across the Pacific and cultivated where these voyagers settled.

Today, noni can still be found growing along coastal areas, like this one at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.

NPS Photo / KAHO

05/26/2026

The petroglyph boardwalk at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is now open!

After several months of closure, visitors can once again explore this special area and view kiʻi pōhaku (petroglyphs) from the improved walkway. The updated boardwalk helps protect these cultural resources while making the area more accessible.

Additional improvements, including benches and a shaded structure, will be installed soon. Mahalo for your patience during construction and for helping us care for this important place by staying on designated paths.

NPS Photo / KAHO

05/18/2026

A face only a tidepool could love?

This little hermit crab was caught posing for our cameras in the tidepools of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. Hermit crabs may be small, but they’re busy explorers of the shoreline, searching for food, shelter, and the perfect borrowed shell to call home.

If you’re visiting the park, take a closer look in the shallows. You never know who might be staring back.

NPS Photo / KAHO

05/11/2026

What does a healthy anchialine pond look like?

At Kaloko-Honokōhau, one sign is right beneath the surface: ʻōpaeʻula (Halocaridina rubra). These tiny red shrimp thrive where freshwater and saltwater mix in balance. When you see their bright color and active presence, it suggests conditions that support life in these unique ponds, including an absence of invasive species that can disrupt this delicate system.

Within the park, there are 279 anchialine ponds. Each one is part of a fragile and interconnected system. Most are off-trail and protected, but our visitors can see examples at the southern end of Honokōhau Beach near our contact station.

If you visit, help us keep these ecosystems healthy. Stay on designated paths and enjoy these remarkable places from a respectful distance. If you have questions, our staff and volunteers at the visitor center are happy to share more!

NPS Photo

05/08/2026

Mark your calendars for upcoming community workdays at our sister park, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park!

Join a group of volunteers for a short .5-mile hike and invasive species removal at ʻAimakapā Fishpond to help restore the largest wetland on the Kona Coast.

Thursday, May 14, 8:30am–12pm
Thursday, June 11, 8:30am–12pm
Thursday, July 9, 8:30am–12pm
Saturday, July 11, 8:30am–12pm

RSVP for a day at Kaloko-Honokōhau: go.nps.gov/kahovolunteer

All are welcome!

An email with full details and instructions will be sent to participants who RSVP.

Please remember to bring the following items:

Hat
Water Bottle
Reef-safe sunscreen
Hiking boots
Tabis or other water shoes (can be provided if you don't have your own)
Gloves (can be provided if you don't have your own)

NPS Photo

05/04/2026

Mark your calendar for upcoming community workdays at ʻAimakapā Fishpond!

Join us for a short .5-mile hike and invasive species removal at ʻAimakapā Fishpond to help restore the largest wetland on the Kona Coast.

Thursday, May 14, 8:30am–12pm
Thursday, June 11, 8:30am–12pm
Thursday, July 9, 8:30am–12pm
Saturday, July 11, 8:30am–12pm

RSVP: go.nps.gov/kahovolunteer

All are welcome!

An email with full details and instructions will be sent to participants who RSVP.

Please remember to bring the following items:

Hat
Water Bottle
Reef-safe sunscreen
Hiking boots
Tabis or other water shoes (can be provided if you don't have your own)
Gloves (can be provided if you don't have your own)

04/30/2026

Now hiring at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park!

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is hiring a Park Guide to join our team. This is a seasonal position, which offers an opportunity to connect visitors with Hawaiian history, culture, and natural resources.

Seasonal Park Guides welcome visitors at the visitor center, answer questions, and share stories of the significance of Kaloko-Honokōhau. They also orient visitors to park conditions, points of interest, and important safety information.

The job announcement is now open on USAJOBS:
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/866745100

If you have questions about the position or need assistance with the application process, please contact us at [email protected].

NPS Photo / KAHO

04/27/2026

As Native Hawaiian Plant Month comes to an end, here’s one more plant close-up from within Kaloko-Honokōhau:

ʻAkulikuli (Sesuvium portulacastrum) is a low-growing succulent that spreads across sandy and rocky shorelines. Its bright pink blossoms stand out against green leaves and the surrounding coastal landscape.

This hardy native plant thrives in places shaped by sun, salt, and wind. ʻAkulikuli is also used in lei-making, valued for the way its vibrant color and resilient stems hold up even after being gathered.

Mahalo for taking a closer look at some of the native plants that call this place home!

NPS Photo / KAHO

04/20/2026

Here's another photogenic plant to look out for during Native Hawaiian Plant Month:

Pā‘ūohi‘iaka (Jacquemontia sandwicensis) is a vine that spreads across our shoreline. Its pale pastel blossoms stand out against rich green leaves and the surrounding dark lava.

Named for Hi‘iaka, the sister of Pele, its name literally means “the skirt of Hi‘iaka.” While it may seem like just a humble vine, its mo‘olelo tells of Hi‘iaka's journey across the islands, involving a story of love, sisterhood, and betrayal.

Across this landscape, even the smallest plants carry stories deeper than what meets the eye.

NPS Photo / KAHO

Address

73-4786 Kanalani Street #14
Kailua-Kona, HI
96740

Telephone

+18083296881

Website

http://www.nps.gov/kaho/index.htm

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