Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
royal canoe landing, a tongue of sand called
Keoneʻele Cove
, is a favorite resting spot
for sea turtles.
Carved wooden
kiʻi
(deity images) standing up to 15ft high front an authentic-looking
heiau reconstruction. Leading up to the heiau is the
Great Wall
separating the royal
grounds from the
puʻuhonua
. Built around 1550, this stone wall is more than 1000ft long
and 10ft high. Inside the wall are two older heiau platforms and legendary standing
stones.
Just south of the park's central village area, an oceanfront palm-tree grove holds one
of South Kona's choicest
picnic areas
. Parking, picnic tables and BBQs face a wide slab
of
pahoehoe
(smooth-flowing lava), which is littered with wave-tumbled lava-rock
boulders and pockmarked with busy
tide pools
where you may encounter sea turtles.
Swimming is possible but can be dicey; judge the surf and entry for yourself. Note that
it's kapu to snorkel here.
After wandering the self-guided trail, you might try some wildlife watching: hump-
back whales can be seen offshore in winter, plus turtles and dolphins and even hoary bats
can be seen here (after sunset is best).
Two-Step
SNORKELING, SWIMMING
MAP
Immediately north of Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, concealed within
a (usually) placid bay, is a series of ridiculously vibrant and beautiful coral gardens
where the reef and marine life seem locked in a permanent race to outstrip each other
with the gaudiest color palette.
From above the water, your only indication of the action is the presence of boats lead-
ing snorkeling, diving, kayaking and SUP tours, plus the crowds gathering at the titular
two steps. Leave your car in the park's lot, and hang a left outside the entrance. Alternat-
ively, there is parking ($3) across from the snorkel entry.
There's no beach here - snorkelers step off a lava ledge beside the boat ramp into
about 10ft of water, which quickly drops to about 25ft. Some naturally formed steps
(hence the spot's name) make entry and exit fairly easy. It's much easier to use the steps
than the boat ramp (we hear locals don't approve of the latter anyways).
Once you're in the water you'll feel like a supporting cast player in Disney's
The Little
Mermaid.
Visibility is usually excellent, especially with the noon-sun overhead; good-
sized reef fish and a fine variety of coral are close to shore. When the tide is rising, the
water is deeper and brings in more fish. The predatory 'crown of thorns' starfish can be
seen here feasting on live coral polyps. Cool, freshwater springs seep out of the ground,
