Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Sights

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Ki'i (wooden carvings) at the Hale o Keawe

• The Puuhonua Translated "Place of Refuge" this area was sanctuary from death sentences. A great wall marks the boundaries between the royal grounds and the sanctuary. Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe, housing the bones of the chiefs that infuse the area with their power or mana. If you reached this sacred place, you were saved.

• The Royal Grounds In the past, chiefs entered the royal grounds from Keone'ele Cove by canoe. The pu (conch shell) was sounded to warn of their coming, for it was forbidden for others to look upon or even cast their shadow on the ali'i (chiefs). As the canoe landed, other members of the royal court stroll past the royal fishponds, looking for a choice fish for dinner. Other chiefs engaged in a game of konane. The beauty, splendor and history of the royal grounds at Pu'uhonua o Honuanua are still felt. Take a self-guided walking tour along the trails once reserved for Hawaiian royalty.

• Ki'ilae Village offers a glimpse into the past, when Hawaii was changing rapidly but still supported traditional aspects of daily life. With the arrival of Europeans in the Hawaiian Islands, many things changed. New plants and animals were introduced and settlements began moving away from the coastal villages to the more fertile uplands and larger harbor cities. What remains in Kiilae today are abandoned heiau (temples), agricultural features and holua slides where the chiefs once rode narrow sleds at great speeds down steep slopes. Animal pens, salt vats and church foundations can be seen from more recent times.

• Cultural demonstrations Watch demonstrators practice traditional techniques, weave baskets from lauhala, make lei, carve a dugout canoe, or play Hawaiian games. These are just a few of the activities performed by cultural demonstrators in the park.

• Tidepools The lava outcrops extending into the sea contain many pools of different depths and sizes that form habitats for a variety of marine organisms. In the tidepools you may find sea cucumbers, hermit crabs and various kinds of seaweed. These protected pools also serve as important nursery grounds for young reef fish. Remember to exercise caution when exploring, rocks can be wet and slippery and large waves may appear at anytime.