30-60 Minutes
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Journey back to ancient Hawaiʻi and walk in the footsteps the ancestors. Explore the Royal Grounds, which were once reserved for the chiefdom of Kona. See the intricate masonry of the Great Wall. Find tranquility in the Pu'uhonua, where breakers of kapu (religious law) sought forgiveness and people found refuge during war. Learn about Hawaiian history and culture while surrounded by scenic views of coastal Hawaiʻi.
Discover Life in Ancient Hawaiʻi The easiest and most popular way to explore the many cultural sites at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is through the self-guided walking tour. This tour takes you back in time as you explore the ancient Royal Grounds, which were once reserved for the chiefdom of Kona. Passing beyond the wall that borders the Royal Grounds you will walk onto the Puʻuhonua, where people found refuge during war or after breaking a kapu (religious law). The self-guided walking tour is about half of a mile long. The terrain is a mixture of crushed coral sand and lava rock. Descriptions of the stops on the self-guided tour may be found in the park brochure or an audio tour is available on this app in the "Tours" section on the main menu.
Tags
Self-Guided Tours - WalkingArcheologyRuinsSculptureClimate ChangeCoasts, Islands and AtollsIndigenous and Native WarriorMonuments and MemorialsNatural SoundsOceansPacific Islander HeritageReconstructionReligion and SpiritualityHeiauScenic ViewsVolcanoes
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Details
Duration
30-60 Minutes
Fees Apply
No
Seasons
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility
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. The trail is a mixture of crushed coral sand (Royal Grounds) and lava rock (Puʻuhonua). While pets are prohibited in the Royal Grounds and Puʻuhonua, service animals are allowed.
Pets
No
Reservations
No