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Established Nov. 10, 1978

Hawaiians are often said to have been the first Pacific Islanders to have undertaken nearshore aquaculture on a truly large scale. Many, if not most, natural embayments were enclosed with rock walls and utilized to raise ʻamaʻama (mullet), awa (milkfish) and other nearshore schooling fishes. Time, tsunamis and neglect have disintegrated many of these fishpond walls, but at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park it is possible to see a restored, massive wall and imagine the pulse of the productive community that once lived here. Two enormous fishponds and a fish trap remain. Petroglyphs depicting the rhythms of daily life—birth, death, travel, fishing, sailing—are found throughout the park.

Wetland birds such as the aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt) and the ʻaukuʻu (black-crowned night heron) forage and breed in the calm, flooded areas inside the fishpond walls, and the park offers sanctuary and forage for migrating shorebirds such as ʻakekeke (ruddy turnstone) and kōlea (Pacific golden plover). Basking honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), resting on the hot sand, delight and fascinate. Federal law protects them from harassment, in and out of the water.

Please refer to the national park page for current conditions and alerts.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is located on the west coast of the island of Hawai’i, approximately 3 miles south of the Keahole International Airport and 3 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona, on the ocean side of Highway 19.

The visitor center, Hale Hoʻokipa, is located half a mile north of the entrance to Honokōhau Harbor.

The Kaloko road gate is located across the highway from the Kaloko New Industrial Park (across from the big yellow “Kona Trade Center” building).

You can also access the park from the south end by way of Honokōhau Boat Harbor. After you turn into the harbor road, take the first right turn and follow it until you see the Kona Sailing Club. Park in the gravel parking area and look to the fence for the park gate. From here it is a 5 minute walk to ʻAiʻopio Fishtrap.

Hale Hoʻokipa Visitor Center, the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, and the adjoining parking area are open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm daily.

The Kaloko Road gate is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

 **Hours of operation may change due to emergency situations, without notice.

The weather on the coast on the Kona side of Hawaiʻi Island is dependably hot, sunny and humid. Temperatures range from the mid-70s to the 90s and there is little shade at Kaloko.

PARK LOCATION

Explore the Park
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Historical Grounds

Historical Grounds

The great, restored wall on Kaloko Fishpond is the heart of this park. Rebuilt on the original foundation, its bulk and complexity will inspire wonder. ʻAimakapā Fishpond, a wetland managed for rare birds, is fronted by a long, peaceful beach. Take the .8-mile trail to the coast from the visitor center to experience a petroglyph field.
Cultural Demonstrations

Cultural Demonstrations

Check in at the visitor center for the schedule of events. Join Hawaiian games, hula lessons, and bamboo stamping, as well as geology walks that point out petroglyphs. Catch ʻukulele lessons in the visitor center breezeway. The park holds a yearly two-day community festival for 4th-graders in early winter, as well as an “ ‘Ohana Day” festival.
Coastal Wildlife

Coastal Wildlife

The park has become known for the number of young Hawaiian green sea turtles feeding nearshore or basking onshore. They are federally protected; it’s best to keep 20 ft. from them. Birders can find native herons, stilts, and coots in the two large fishponds. Occasionally a Hawaiian monk seal can be seen resting on the walls of ʻAiʻopio Fishtrap.
Park Features

Hover to Discover

Hawaiian green sea turtles are recovering from overharvesting, and this park is one place where that recovery is visible.
The wooden sluice gate, or makaha, of the great fishpond of Kaloko, allows small fish to come in, fatten up, and be trapped.
The stones of the ʻAiʻopio fishtrap still sit in shallow, serene water. These stone walls make a safe swimming pool for children.
ʻAimakapā fishpond, serene behind its great sand dune, is host to rare Hawaiian wetland birds like endemic Hawaiian coots.
The name Kaloko was really two words: Ka (the) Loko (pond). It was apparently famous: everyone knew which pond was “the pond”.
Native Hawaiian stilts, or aeʻo, are elegant black and white birds with long pink legs. Proportionately, this stilt has some of the longest bird legs in the world.

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National Park Service Arrowhead
Hawaii Pacific Parks Association Location Map
Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. P.O. Box 74 Hawaii National Park, 96718 HI

© COPYRIGHT HAWAIʻI PACIFIC PARKS ASSOCIATION 2017.

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