Puuhonua o Honaunau Historical Park

Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (poo-oo-ho-noo-ah o hoe-now-now), formerly known as Place of Refuge at Honaunau, is an incredibly beautiful and educational experience that no trip to the Big Island should be without. After you pay your $5 per vehicle fee and walk past the educational displays, you round a corner and are transplanted into the world of the ancient Hawaiians. You are walking on the grounds were generations of ali'i (ruling class) Hawaiians lived and worked.

You can follow a map provided at the entrance which describes all the sights you will see from ancient games to canoe building and shelters. The ancient Hawaiians lived by a strict code called the "kapu" system. There were many rules a few being that men and women could not eat together and a common person could not stand in the shadow of an ali'i. If a person broke a kapu the punishment could be death. However, the rule-breaker did have one sliver of hope. If they could make it past the armed guards and to the temple at Honaunau they could be cleansed by a priest and the sin forgiven.

Now a reconstruction of this temple sits on the edge of the sea at Honaunau in the same place it was hundreds of years ago and where the bones of many kahunas were buried. Solemn tikis guard the perimeter.

You can reach the sight by turning makai onto Highway 160 near mile marker 104 on Highway 11. Continue down five more miles to the coast on Highway 160.

Additional Resources

View a Honaunau Map including Two Step, Keoneele Cove, and the Heiau.

Take a Honaunau Virtual Tour with the NPS.

Location: Puuhonua o Honaunau Historical Park is located in the Kona Region

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