Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Encyclopedia
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States
National Historical Park
located in the Kona District
on the Big island of Hawaii
in the U.S. state of Hawaii
. It includes the National Historic Landmark
ed archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement. The park was established on November 10, 1978, for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture. In 2000 the name was changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling.
, or traditional mountain-to-sea land divisions encompassed by the park. Although in ancient times this arid area of lava rock was called kekaha aole wai (lands without water), the abundant sea life attracted settlement for hundreds of years.
) is a site of fishponds used in ancient Hawaii
is on the North end of the park.
The first reference to the pond comes from the story of Kamalalawalu, about 300 years ago.
The kuapā (seawall) is over 30 feet wide and 6 feet high, stretching for 750 feet. Constructed by hand without mortar, the angle and gaps between the stones deflected the surf better than many modern concrete seawalls.
Aimakapā fishpond is an important wetland
area protecting native birds including the koloa maoli (Hawaiian Duck
, Anas wyvilliana), alae keokeo (Hawaiian Coot
, Fulica alai), āeo (Hawaiian Stilt
, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), aukuu (Black-crowned Night Heron
, Nycticorax nycticorax), among others.
The area is currently under reforestation, after the removal of non-native invasive plants.
It was added to the Register of Historic Places in 1978 as site 78003148.
on the south part of the park.
This area can be reached via trails from the park visitor's center, or from the small boat harbor access road on Kealakehe Parkway.
Features include loko ia (Ancient Hawaiian aquaculture fishponds), kahua (house site platforms), kii pōhaku (petroglyph
s), hōlua
(stone slides) and heiau
(religious sites).
The Aiopio Fishtrap is a 1.7 acre (0.6879662 ha) pond, with a stone wall forming an artificial enclosure along the naturally curved shoreline of a bay.
Small openings allowed young fish to enter from the sea, but as they grew larger (or at low tide) they were easily caught with nets inside the trap as needed.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 as site 66000287.
It was built in the mid-19th century, and evolved over the years into the Hawaii Belt Road which encircles the entire island.
The coastal trail is part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
.
The Honokōhau boat harbor provides a launching area for traditional canoes, fishing boats, Scuba diving
and snorkeling
tours of the area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Historical Park
National Historical Park
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
located in the Kona District
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
on the Big island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
in the U.S. state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It includes the National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
ed archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement. The park was established on November 10, 1978, for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture. In 2000 the name was changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling.
History
Kaloko and Honokōhau are the names of two of the four different ahupuaaAhupua'a
In old Hawaii, ahupuaa was the common subdivision of the land. It is comparable to the tapere in the Southern Cook Islands. The traditional subdivision has four hierarchical levels:*mokupuni *moku...
, or traditional mountain-to-sea land divisions encompassed by the park. Although in ancient times this arid area of lava rock was called kekaha aole wai (lands without water), the abundant sea life attracted settlement for hundreds of years.
Kaloko
Kaloko (meaning "the pond" in the Hawaiian languageHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
) is a site of fishponds used in ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
is on the North end of the park.
The first reference to the pond comes from the story of Kamalalawalu, about 300 years ago.
The kuapā (seawall) is over 30 feet wide and 6 feet high, stretching for 750 feet. Constructed by hand without mortar, the angle and gaps between the stones deflected the surf better than many modern concrete seawalls.
Aimakapā fishpond is an important wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
area protecting native birds including the koloa maoli (Hawaiian Duck
Hawaiian Duck
The Hawaiian Duck is a species of bird in the family Anatidae. It is endemic to the large islands of Hawaii. Some authorities treat it as an island subspecies of the Mallard, based on their capacity to produce fertile hybrids, but it appears well distinct and capability of hybridization is...
, Anas wyvilliana), alae keokeo (Hawaiian Coot
Hawaiian Coot
The Hawaiian Coot or alae keokeo is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae, that is endemic to Hawaii....
, Fulica alai), āeo (Hawaiian Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family . Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize...
, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), aukuu (Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...
, Nycticorax nycticorax), among others.
The area is currently under reforestation, after the removal of non-native invasive plants.
It was added to the Register of Historic Places in 1978 as site 78003148.
Honokōhau
Honokōhau means "bay drawing dew" and refers to the ancient settlementon the south part of the park.
This area can be reached via trails from the park visitor's center, or from the small boat harbor access road on Kealakehe Parkway.
Features include loko ia (Ancient Hawaiian aquaculture fishponds), kahua (house site platforms), kii pōhaku (petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s), hōlua
Hawaiian lava sledding
Hawaiian lava sledding is a traditional sport of the Native Hawaiians. Similar to wave surfing, hee hōlua involves the use of a narrow wooden sled . The sled is used standing up, lying down, or kneeling, to ride down man-made or naturally occurring courses of rock, often reaching speeds of ...
(stone slides) and heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
(religious sites).
The Aiopio Fishtrap is a 1.7 acre (0.6879662 ha) pond, with a stone wall forming an artificial enclosure along the naturally curved shoreline of a bay.
Small openings allowed young fish to enter from the sea, but as they grew larger (or at low tide) they were easily caught with nets inside the trap as needed.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 as site 66000287.
Recreation
Several restored trails include about one mile of the Māmalohoa Trail.It was built in the mid-19th century, and evolved over the years into the Hawaii Belt Road which encircles the entire island.
The coastal trail is part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a long trail located on the island of Hawaii. It is not yet a continuous "trail", but can be accessed at several broken segments along the coastline of the Big Island. The trail was established to access the traditional Ancient Hawaiian culture along with...
.
The Honokōhau boat harbor provides a launching area for traditional canoes, fishing boats, Scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
tours of the area.