Pu’uhonau O Honaunau National Historical Park in Pictures

  • Updated:
  • April 5, 2016

Located on the western shores of the Big Island of Hawaii, the 182 acres of Pu’uhonau O Honaunau National Historical Park once drew ancient Hawaiian royalty and lawbreakers alike.  It is now one of Hawaii’s most sacred historical spaces.  The park protects an area called the “Place of Refuge,” where in ancient times anyone who broke the sacred laws known as ‘kapu’ would flee for safety.  If you reached the walls of Pu’uhonau, then no harm could come to you.

Now visitors can walk amongst the sacred structures of the Royal Grounds and take the footpaths around The Great Wall, standing more than 10 feet tall. Here are some photos from ParkChaser’s visit in 2014:

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park - Sacred Structure
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

 

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Entrance Sign
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Entrance Sign
The Great Wall - Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
The Great Wall – Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

Konane Board

Kōnane is a two-player strategy board game from Hawaii. It was invented by the ancient Hawaiian Polynesians. The game begins with all the counters filling the board in an alternating pattern of black and white. Players then hop over one another's pieces, capturing them similar to checkers.
Kōnane is an ancient two-player strategy board game, invented by the ancient Hawaiian Polynesians. The game begins with all the counters filling the board in an alternating pattern of black and white. Players then hop over one another’s pieces, capturing them similar to checkers.

Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

"Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe, housing the bones of the chiefs that infuse the area with their power or mana. If you reached this sacred place, you would be saved." - from NPS.gov
“Many ki’i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe, housing the bones of the chiefs that infuse the area with their power or mana. If you reached this sacred place, you would be saved.” – from NPS.gov

 

IMG_0948 Ki'i - Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

 

Sacred Structures at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Sacred Structures at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

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Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park means "Place of Refuge"
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park means “Place of Refuge”
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