PO Box 44340, 62-3601 Kawaihae Rd, Kawaihae, HI 96743
Phone: 808-882-7218
Fax: 808-882-1215
Open All Year
Overview. On a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the northwestern side of the big island of Hawaii, Kamehameha I built a temple, called a "heiau," to the war god. Kamehameha was told, in 1790, that this temple would appease the god and allow him to unify the Hawaiian Islands under his sole rule. Kamehameha did defeat his rivals and unify all the Hawaiian Islands by 1810. Pu'ukohola Heiau, "Temple on the hill of the whale," was the last major religious structure built in the Hawaiian Chain. Today, only the stone foundation of the mortarless building remains.What to see and do. Both nature and history find a place in the park's 85 acres. Begin your tour at the visitor center, open from 7:30 AM to 4 PM year-round. Call ahead to see which day that week you'll be able to see a Hawaiian arts and crafts demonstration (January through September). Wear light clothing and good shoes because the trail is long, hot, and sometimes rough going. If you can't make it, check at the visitor center for alternate viewing areas, such as Spencer Park. Along the way, keep an eye out for Hawaii's many species of birds and plants. If you make a winter or spring visit, watch the ocean for whales and sharks. To help preserve the temples, and for your safety, visitors are restricted from entering them. Only Hawaiians practicing traditional religious beliefs are allowed into the Heiau. Outside, the hiking trail takes you past Pu'ukohola Heiau and the older Mailekini Heiau, through the royal courtyard Pelekane, and to the location of John Young's homestead. Young, stranded in 1790 from the fur-trading ship The Eleamora, was a British advisor to Kamehameha, and one of the very few Europeans buried in the Royal Mausoleum on Oahu. No picnicking or swimming is allowed on this site, but you can finish your visit with lunch and a swim at Spencer Beach County Park, which is within walking distance. In August the park celebrates its establishment. Call ahead for details as well as for information concerning park closings due to high winds. Guided tours for educational groups are available if you give two weeks notice.
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