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The Visitor Contact Station parking area and Park Store are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Kaloko road gate is open from 8:a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Visitors are welcome in the park after 5:00p.m., however, their vehicles need to be out of the Visitor Contact Station parking area and Kaloko area before these gates are closed and locked for the night.

The earliest animal forms had to either fly or swim to reach the ocean isolated Hawaiian Islands. Thus, the native vertebrate fauna of the park is limited to predominately fish and birds, a few mammals, and a couple of reptiles. Invertebrate animals more easily rode ocean and air currents. Marine corals, crustaceans, and other invertebrates are more species diverse here than are vertebrates. None of the three mammals in the park are abundant or are full-time year round residents. Hump-back whales cruise the reef margins during winter and are often seen from shore. Recently, a few Hawaiian monk seals (an endangered species) regularly haul in and bask on park beaches. On occasional evenings, a few Hawaiian hoary bats can be seen cruising above Aimakapa Pond catching insects. These three are the only mammals native to the park.

During winter serious Kona birdwatchers are always checking out Aimakapa Pond at the park on the chance that some unusual lost stray from Asia or North America has sought refuge in this rare mid-Pacific wetland. Aimakapa Pond has a long list of these unusual stragglers, but there is little consistency from year to year as to what atypical migrants might show up. The pond is a reliable place year round to see endangered Hawaiian stilts and Hawaiian coots which are resident. Where non-native feral cats and mongoose are rigorously controlled wedge-tailed petrels are attempting to reestablish a breeding colony. During migration a variety of shorebirds, including bristle-thighed curlew, are typical.

Little is known about the earliest Hawaiian population, but because of their Polynesian background as fishermen and agriculturalists, during this formative time settlement probably began along the coastlines near rich fishing grounds. These scattered, often temporary, coastal homesteads, consisting of a few houses, were probably occupied by extended family groups. Although the character of a shoreline might seem promising for a village site, its selection depended upon shelter from winds and the availability of fresh water. In ancient times, water was available from several different sources. Surface streams in the larger valleys provided water for domestic use and later were used for irrigation purposes. Along the coastal plains, ground water was available in volcanic rock, limestone, and gravel. This lower-level fresh water (basal water) floats on the salt water because of its lesser specific gravity. Where there were no streams, coastal villages depended on basal water obtained from shallow wells dug in the sand a few feet from the shore. In some areas fresh water escaped along the coasts, causing springs under the surface to erupt through the salt water. This water could be captured in gourds for use. Settlement also extended into the lowland zone of alluvial windward valleys where there were fertile agricultural resources.

The early settlement period, therefore, was probably characterized by primary dependence on the sea and its products for subsistence. On adjacent land, however, if sufficient rainfall and protection from salt spray allowed, the villagers could raise sweet potatoes or yams. Expert fishermen, the first settlers were adept at exploiting the rich marine resources found in nearby reefs and bays, including fish, shellfish, squid, crustaceans, marine mammals, and seaweed. They not only rapidly became familiar with the various habits and characteristics of the different kinds of fish on the coasts and the best places and times to catch them, but also acquired an intimate knowledge of their breeding places and feeding grounds. This almost total dependence on the sea would last until crops were growing well and domesticated animals were reproducing in sufficient numbers, allowing the Hawaiians to expand into a land-oriented economy. In time there was extensive development and intensification of all aspects of food production.

During the early colonization period in the islands, Hawaiian society probably remained structured along the lines of its ancestral concept of hereditary chieftainship, with settlers organized into corporate descent groups. The rank differential between chiefs and commoners was probably not great for the first few centuries after settlement when bonds of kinship would still have been important in a small population group. The precise nature of the religious beliefs of this early population is unknown, although the pan-Polynesian concepts of mana (spiritual or supernatural power) and kapu (taboo) were probably still a part of their social and ritual lives. Sacred places were probably only designated by small platforms or some type of enclosure.

The natural features of Kaloko-Honokohau are inseparably intertwined with the parks archeological and cultural features. The park’s wetlands are the Big Island’s finest, and they are all ancient man-made fishponds. The entire surface area of the park, (and several of the shallow marine waters), contain archeological ruins.

Kalaoko-Honokohau has easily accessible tide-pools rich in intertidal life, and an unusual assemblage of anchialine pools. The tide pools are shoreline pools which have surface connections to the sea at high tides. They have diverse species mainly of marine origin. In contrast, anchialine (from the Greek meaning near the sea) pools are near shore pools without any surface connection to the sea, but have measurable salinity and show tidal rhythms. Anchialine pools have fewer but more distinctive animals. Crustaceans and mollusks are their most abundant and characteristic animals. Small red shrimp (opaeula) are the characteristic species.

Half the acreage of Kaloko-Honokohau is marine waters. These are an exceptional sample of the Kona Coast waters noted for their exceptional clarity and rich marine biodiversity. This is a friendly reef accessed daily by several dive boats, and readily accessible from shore snorklers by way of the Aiopio Fish Trap.

In recent times, modern transport by airplanes and ships has transported many alien species here (both accidental and deliberate). Some are so invasive (rats, cats, mongoose) they cause great harm to native ecosystems, and are the focus of natural resource management in the park. Also a problem is the red mangrove. In recent years, non-native red mangrove has aggressively invaded many shoreline habitats in Hawaii. Beginning in the mid-70s red mangrove overran and choked both Kaloko and Aimakapapa Ponds. Shortly after the park acquired the lands the park staff aggressively removed the mangrove. This was a huge undertaking and the park’s example has now been widely copied on the other islands in Hawaii. Red mangrove has been entirely removed from the park—but the management staff constantly monitors and removes all new seedlings of this invasive weed.

Like all lowlands in the Hawaiian Islands Kaloko-Honokohau is mostly a wasteland of alien vegetation. But, because of park restoration efforts there are glimmers of both native and prehistoric Polynesian plants. The shoreline strand, now that invasive mangrove has been controlled, is a natural landscape. Where the park staff has controlled invasive fountain grass, an exceptional array of native shrubs now flourishes. The lowland vegetation restoration at the park is continuing.

Kona climate is warm and humid. Temperatures range from the 70s in the winter to the 90s in the summer. Bring a hat, lots of sunscreen and water with you when you visit the park. Also remember good hiking shoes if you will be walking along the coastal trail because the lava makes for an uneven walking surface.

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Please respect all wildlife in the park. Do not feed or harass the animals.

There are no entrance fees.

There is no overnight camping in the park.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 96 miles away, Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is 25 miles away and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is 25 miles away.

Kaloko-Honoköhau is three miles north of Kailua-Kona and three miles south of Keahole-Kona International Airport, along Highway 19 (the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway).

The Visitor Contact Station is located on Highway 19 half a mile north of the Honokohau Harbor entrance on the ocean side.

The park’s Administrative Headquarters is located in the Kaloko New Industrial Park along Highway 19. From the highway, turn mauka (towards the mountain) on inalani Street and then make your first right onto Kanalani Street. Turn right into the fourth driveway on your right. The headquarters is located at the end of that driveway. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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 the north end of the Honoköhau small boat harbor.

Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park:

By Car:

Kalaoa, HI – 6.71 miles

Captain Cook, HI – 15.87 miles

Walema, HI – 39.38 miles (Hawaii County)

Mountain View, HI – 109.60 miles

Hilo, HI – 93.87 miles

Holualoa, HI – 9.77 miles

Kaloko- Honokohau National Historical Park, 73-4786 Kanalani St., Suite #14,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Visitor Information Recorded Message 808.329.6881 (ext 1)
Headquarters 808.329.6881 (ext 3)

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