Destinations
Hawaiʻi Island · Kona Coast
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
On what looks like barren black lava just north of Kailua-Kona, Native Hawaiians built a thriving settlement, engineering fishponds and fish traps that fed communities for generations. Today it is one of the best places on the island to see honu (green sea turtles) resting on the sand, and it’s free.
Fishponds and Fish Traps
Loko iʻa (fishponds) were a brilliant form of aquaculture. Walls and sluice gates let small fish swim in on the tide and kept the grown fish inside.
Kaloko Fishpond
A massive restored stone seawall encloses this pond, said to have been a favorite of Kamehameha I.
ʻAimakapā Fishpond
A natural pond and wetland at the center of the park, home to aeʻo (Hawaiian stilts) and other native birds.
ʻAiʻōpio Fish Trap
The only fish trap of its kind on the island, on a calm sandy beach near Honokōhau Harbor. Great for spotting honu.
Honu and the Shoreline
Green sea turtles regularly haul out to rest on Honokōhau Beach and around ʻAiʻōpio. It’s magical to watch them, and important to do it from a distance.
Ranger Tip
- Stay at least 20 feet from honu, and never touch or feed them.
- The lava is hot and sharp. Wear real shoes, bring plenty of water, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
- Petroglyphs and heiau are cultural sites. Look, but don’t climb or touch.
