Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau

https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu%CA%BBuhonua_o_H%C5%8Dnaunau_National_Historical_Park Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is located on the west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi. The historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puʻuhonua. The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the puʻuhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs. Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua. From Kailua-Kona: Take Highway 11 south, approximately 20 miles. Between mileposts 103 and 104, at the Hōnaunau Post Office, turn right towards the ocean onto Hwy 160. Travel 3.5 miles and turn left at the Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park sign. Travel times will vary due to traffic conditions in North Kona. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Visitor Center The Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Historical Park Visitor Center is open year-round. From Kailua-Kona: Take Highway 11 south, approximately 20 miles. Between mileposts 103 and 104, at the Honaunau Post Office, turn right towards the ocean onto Hwy 160. Travel 3.5 miles and turn left at the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park sign. Travel times will vary due to ongoing construction in North Kona. Kōnane in the Royal Grounds A stone papamū (Kōnane playing surface) with Hale o Keawe and Hōnaunau Bay in the background. Explore the picturesque Royal Grounds and catch a game of Kōnane on the shores of Hōnaunau Bay. Hale o Keawe & Keoneʻele Cove A double-hulled canoe sits in Keoneʻele Cove with Hale o Keawe in the background. Hale o Keawe (the royal mausoleum) brings visitors and current cultural practitioners to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau. The Great Wall and Puʻuhonua Close up image looking along the stones of the Great Wall in the Puʻuhonua with coconut trees The Great Wall separates the Royal Grounds from the Puʻuhonua and demonstrates the impressive Hawaiian dry stacked masonry technique. Hula Demonstration in the Royal Grounds Hula dancers raise their arms to the sky in the sandy Royal Grounds. Hula dancers perform at the annual Cultural Festival. Canoe Hale in the Royal Grounds An a-frame canoe hale (house) in the Royal Grounds Visitors from around the world visit Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP every year to learn more about Hawaiian history and culture Sunset in the Tide Pools A glowing sunset reflects in the calm waters of a tide pool. The Picnic Area is a fantastic place to catch a beautiful Hawaiian sunset. NPS Structural Fire Program Highlights 2014 Intern Accomplishments NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Hawaii Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. [Site Under Development] coast and temple Sea Level Rise & Anchialine Pools Anchialine pools are brackish coastal ecosystems without a surface connection to the ocean, where groundwater and ocean water (from underground) mix. In Hawai‘i, groundwater flows through these pools and out to wetlands and coral reefs making them valuable indicators of broad-scale groundwater recharge and contamination. An anchialine pool in Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Park Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau The Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau is an important Hawaiian ceremonial site bounded on its southern and eastern sides by a massive L-shaped wall, known as the Great Wall, and on its northern and western sides by the ocean. Within the Pu'uhonua there are several other important ceremonial structures including the Hale o Keawe, 'Āle'ale'a Heiau, and the Ancient Heiau. The Great Wall and the Ocean at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park Bird Beak Buffet Learn about birds, the importance of beak shape and size, and what type of food they eat with the fun, interactive activity! A Hawaiian Stilt and a Coot forage for food in ʻAimakapa Fishpond Ho‘onā‘ū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath: Wahi Pana The first article in the Hoʻonāʻū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath series by Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft offers perspective on Oceanic cosmology and describes the concept of wahi pana, a place with a pulse, a legendary place. An orange sunset with the sun breaking through the clouds How to Read a Photo Historic photographs can tell a complex story, if you know how to read them! This activity will take you through the simple steps to discover how to read a photograph. (Suggested ages: 9 and up) A historic photograph of a female park ranger in a thatched NPS contact station circa 1960s Ho‘onā‘ū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath: Kālaimoku The fourth article in the Hoʻonāʻū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath series by Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft is titled "Kālaimoku" and it speaks to the depth of symbolism in Oceanic traditions. Featuring excerpts from a prayer uttered by the kālai ki‘i over the hafting of a stone-adze. Close up image of koʻi (stone adz) bound with coconut sennit Ho‘onā‘ū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath: Kū'auhau The third article in the Hoʻonāʻū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath series by Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft is titled "Ku'auhau" and it speaks to the importance of genealogy in Oceanic traditions. The article features excerpts from Kumulipo, a cosmology preserved from ka wā kahiko. Two men in traditional clothing sit in a canoe house preparing stone adze Ho‘onā‘ū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath: Moʻoʻōlelo The second article in the Hoʻonāʻū - Prolonging an Ancestral Breath series by Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft offers perspective on mo‘o‘ōlelo, the tradition in spoken word and stories of origin. Featuring excerpts from Kumulipo, a cosmology preserved from ka wā kahiko. A woman wearing a head lei points to wana (sea urchin) in a wooden bowl full of water. National Park Getaway: Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Step into the past at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park—the Place of Refuge. For hundreds of years, powerful chiefs and sacred laws ruled Hawai’i under the kapu system. Kapu maintained the balance of life on the islands and preserved traditional values. a wood fence and wood structure Conserving pinnipeds in Pacific Ocean parks in response to climate change The evolutionary record from previous climate perturbations indicates that marine mammals are highly vulnerable but also remarkably adaptable to climatic change in coastal ecosystems. Consequently, national parks in the Pacific, from Alaska to Hawaii, are faced with potentially dramatic changes in their marine mammal fauna, especially pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). black harbor seal National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate. Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map Hawaiian Values: Aloha ʻĀina What if Earth Day was everyday? Learn more about the Hawaiian concept of aloha ʻāina, a value deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. A small fishpond surrounded by stacked lava rock walls. Hawaiian Values: Hōʻihi Learn more about the Hawaiian value of hōʻihi. Cultural Practitioners present offerings at Hale o Keawe during the annual Makahiki ceremony. Hawaiian Values: Hoʻolaʻa Learn more about the Hawaiian value of Hoʻolaʻa. Thatched Hale o Keawe sits behind a wooden palisade with carved kiʻi and lele (offering platform). Polynesian Heritage Plants: Ipu Native to tropical Africa and Asia, ipu (bottle gourds) came to the Hawaiian Islands aboard Polynesian voyaging canoes. Learn about the traditional uses and cultural significance of this important Polynesian heritage plant. Ipu (bottle gourds) hang from leafy vines on a slanted trellis Hawaiian Values: Hialele Learn more about the traditional Hawaiian value of hialele or the value of discernment. A semicircle carved kii images with arrow above 2nd image with text "Lono-maka-hialele" Polynesian Heritage Plants: Niu Perhaps one of the most useful plant in ancient Hawaiʻi, the niu or coconut tree was brought to the islands by Polynesian voyagers. As almost every part of this plant is used in a variety of different ways it is sometimes referred to as the Polynesian "Tree of Life". A coconut tree grove with blue sky above and black lava rock below. Plan Like A Park Ranger - Top 10 Tips for Visiting Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Visiting Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau this summer? Plan like a park ranger and check out these top ten tips for visiting. Half of a a-frame canoe hale (house) with sunset and coconut trees in the background. Hawaiian Values: Pono Learn more about the traditional Hawaiian value of pono: to achieve excellence, prosperity, and a state of equity. A portrait of King Kamehameha III A Place of Freedom: Black History in 19th Century Hawaiʻi For over 200 years, the Black community in Hawaiʻi has influenced some of Hawaii's most vital institutions-- from founding schools to advising Hawaiian Royalty. Learn more about three important Black Americans that help shape the Hawaiʻi. A portrait of Anthony Allen Lava Tree Mold Fossils Tree mold impressions are trace fossils that develop within lava flows. tree mold fossil appears as a round hole in lava rock with still glowing lava and wood embers inside Geraldine Kenui Bell Geraldine Kenui Bell, better known as Geri, was the first Native Hawaiian woman to be superintendent of a National Park Service (NPS) unit – in fact, she oversaw the operation of two different parks in Hawai‘i simultaneously. Woman in National Park uniform and leis speaks to crowd. Podium stands field of lava rock Queen Ka'ahumanu Queen Ka‘ahumanu was one of the most powerful women in Hawaiian history, whose decisions would affect her people for centuries. As the favored wife of the powerful King Kamehameha I and the kuhina nui (regent or co-regent) of her stepsons Kings Kamehameha II and III, Ka‘ahumanu demonstrated a keen political sense and a strong understanding of power. Hawaiian woman and young man sitting in lush pavilion both holding ornate staffs. Ship in background The Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Program Brings BSA Scouts and National Parks Together To connect more youth to their local communities, NPS created the Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Program in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America, which welcomes boys, girls, and young adults to participate. Through this program, BSA Scouts and Cub Scouts can earn award certificates and may also receive a patch. Learn more in this article. William Kai, a Cub Scout, holds up his Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Certificate Award Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - Pacific Islands Collection Women's biographies from Hawai'i and Guam Map of parks in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands 50 Nifty Finds #11: Carving a Place in NPS History Few employees have left as visible a mark on National Park Service (NPS) exhibits as John A. Segeren. His work has been enjoyed by generations of park visitors who never knew his name but appreciated his intricate wood carvings and playful animal figures displayed in parks throughout the system. A master woodcarver described by former President Lyndon B. Johnson as "a legacy to this country," Segeren carved out his own place in NPS history. Round wooden plaque with bison, globe, and waterfall Travel Blog: The Pacific Islands Writing Prompt: Travel Blog written by Audrey Nelson for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series. Audrey is a NPS Workforce Management Fellow, in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps Map of the Pacific Islands Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Virtual Tour The Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau is an important Hawaiian ceremonial site bounded on two sides by a massive L-shaped wall, known as the Great Wall, and on its other two sides by the ocean. Within the Puʻuhonua there are several other important ceremonial structures including the Hale o Keawe, ʻĀleʻaleʻa Heiau, and the Ancient Heiau. Explore Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau via HDP’s virtual tour, point cloud, animation, and archival HALS documentation. Sandy path between stone walls at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.