Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park

On By nationalparkswithtIn Hawaii
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Aloha➢

My family and I took a cruise around the Hawaiian islands in 2019. We embarked in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Prior to embarkation, we spent a few days on land and explored Oahu. Using Hilton’s Hawaiian Village as our base, we enjoyed visiting many interesting sites before boarding the Pride of America. We spent a week on board cruising the Hawaiian Islands. Our first port of call was Kahului Harbor on Maui.

After Maui, we sailed to the big island of Hawaiʻi. On the big island we had two ports; the first was Hilo. Next, we sailed around to Kona on the other side of the island. While in port, we visited St. Benedicts, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Royal Kona Coffee, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Huliheʻe Palace, & Mokuaikaua Church.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park preserves an ancient Hawaiian place of refuge. This was the second stop on our ‘Best of Kona’ excursion

If you broke a law, any law, in old Hawaii, the penalty was death. The only way to escape that sentence was to flee to the sanctuary of a pu’uhonua. There, a priest would provide absolution to the law-breaker.

Just outside the walls of the sanctuary are the remains and reconstruction of temples, royal fishponds and a village where the chiefs lived for generations.  The ancient nobility were buried here, but their remains were moved to the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii in 1858.

We walked the path to the beach to see the Hale o Keawe temple and surrounding totems. From the lava jetty, we could see colorful fish swimming nearby. This is a sacred place, so snorkeling is not allowed, but one has only to stand at the water’s edge to glimpse the rich marine life.

Continuing on the path took us past some fish ponds and through a gap in the great wall, constructed of lava rocks.  Then we headed up to the visitor center to listen to a ranger talk before heading back to the tour bus.

Kona Posts➢

  • St. Benedicts
  • Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
  • Royal Kona Coffee
  • Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
  • Huliheʻe Palace
  • Mokuaikaua Church

Location: State Hwy 160, Hōnaunau, Hawaii
Designation: National Historical Park
Date designated/established: July 26, 1955
Date of my visit: April 17 , 2019

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