The Big Island is one of the most breathtaking islands on the planet with lots of spectacular attractions that attracts millions of visitors every year. The Big Island is home to four out of the five national parks in the state of Hawaiʻi and one national historic trail making the island one of the best places to visit in Hawaiʻi.
These national parks on Hawaiʻi Big Island were created to preserve the rich history and natural phenomenon of the beautiful island and they some of the best places to explore on earth.
The remarkable national parks on Hawaiʻi Big Island
The four beautiful national parks on Hawaiʻi Big Island are:
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park
- Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park
- Pu’ukohala Heiau National Historic Park
Hawaiʻi VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the most well-known national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island. The park is among the rare places on earth where you can see an active volcano within a short distance. Also, the park is open to visitors and locals and it is located just between Kona and Hilo on the southern part of the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcano.
The park opens daily from: 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you want to visit the Kilauea Visitor Center. If you’re interested in visiting the Ranger station, chain of craters road, it opens daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
KALOKO-HONOKOHAU NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
This national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island is a landmark protection for an ancient Hawaiʻian settlement. The park indicates partitions of the traditional Hawaiʻian land divisions that separated the land into zones between the ocean and the mountain.
The Kaloko national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island is home to a place of worship, ancient rock engravings (petroglyphs), housing platforms, and stone slide. The park is also home to two beautiful beaches, the Honokohau and Ai’opio beach, suitable for a family time out. The Kaloko national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island opens daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
The Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau park has an explicit tropical atmosphere and it’s filled with beautiful white sands and attractive coconut palms. The Pu’uhonua is a refuge spot for ancient Hawaiʻians.
Warriors that lost battles and law breakers fleeing from punishments left their homes and sought for refuge at the the Pu’uhonua. There are several archaeological sites on the park including a rebuilt ancient Hawaiʻian temple known as the the “Hale o Keawe”, and royal fishponds. The Pu’uhonua is open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PU’UKOHALA HEIAU NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
This national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island was built as a place of worship in 1790 by Kamehamea I and he devoted it to the war god Kūka’ilimoku. Once the temple was erected, the king decided to conquer the neighboring islands and he succeeded, winning all his battles.
Upon his victory, King Kamehamea I became the first king in history to unite and rule over the entire island as one kingdom. This national park on Hawaiʻi Big Island opens daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
When you’re done with the national parks, see other eight amazing things to do on the Big Island.
