If you’re heading for an island vacation, be sure to add Hawaiian National Parks to the list. The National Park Service sites in Hawaii are spread out across 4 different islands, and include 8 National Parks and 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
NPS Website
One of the newest Hawaiian National Park Service affiliated units, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Since its founding in 2000, the trail has been slowly expanded with a planned route through many of the historic, cultural, and natural features of the Hawaiian coastline.
Passport Cancellation Information:
Passport stamps are currently available at the other historic park service sites on the Big Island: Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP Visitor’s Center, Puuhokola Heiau NHS Visitor’s Center, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau NHP Visitor’s Center
Haleakalā National Park
NPS Website
2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of this National Park. Visitors flock to Maui to visit the volcanic history of Haleakala. The activities in this park are immense, including rising to watch the sunset above the clouds in the summit area and biking down to the coastline from 9,000+ feet.
Passport Cancellation Information:
There are three passport cancellation locations in the park: The Headquarters on the park entrance road about 7,000 feet. The Summit Ranger station at the end of the entrance road and the summit of Haleakala. The Kapahulu Ranger station in the Kipahulu District (at the end of the Road to Hana).
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
NPS Website
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park turns 100 in 2016 – the perfect time to visit one of the first National Parks formed in the official National Park System. Visitors can hike in a dormant volcano, watch the orange lava glow at near the Jaggar Museum overlook, hear ranger-led talks about volcano history, and hike to the top of Mauna Loa, one of the tallest mountains in the United States.
Passport Cancellation Information:
Located in the Visitor Center bookstore
Kilauea Visitor’s Center
1 Crater Rim Drive
Volcano, HI 96785
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Honouliuli National Monument
NPS Website
Created in February 2015, Honouliuli National Monument is not yet open to the public. President Obama created this National Monument on the island of Oahu to tell the history of internment, martial law, and the experience of prisoners of war in Hawai‘i during World War II.
Passport Cancellation Information:
No passport stamp available yet.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
NPS Website
In the 19th Century, the Hawaiian government banished hundreds of individuals to the island of Molokai because they had Hansen’s disease (leprosy), which at the time had no cure. Since then, more than 8000 individuals have lived and died in the Kalaupapa community. Once in isolation, the park now serves as a place for education and contemplation. Visitors must be cleared via special arrangements to visit the park as there are still residents living on the park grounds.
Passport Cancellation Information:
Available at the Mule Concessionaire which services the Kalaupapa Trail tours.
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
NPS Website
Ancient Hawaiians used every means possible to survive on land and sea, including becoming expert fisherman. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park preserves two main areas. To the north, visitors can walk along an ancient fishpond wall, where hundreds of years ago Hawaiian natives would use their knowledge of fishing and the tides for food. On the south end of the park, visitors can walk among the ancient settlement that once rested on the western shores of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Passport Cancellation Information:
Available at the visitor’s center in Kailua-Kona
74-4968 Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy #14,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
NPS Website
For more information about Pu’uhonau O Honaunau National Historical Park located on the Big Island of Hawaii, check out Park Chaser’s feature: Pu’uhonau O Honaunau in Pictures
Passport Cancellation Information:
Available at the visitor’s center in Captain Cook, Hawaii
1871 Trail
Captain Cook, HI 96704
Related Posts
- Pu’uhonau O Honaunau National Historical Park in Pictures
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Pu`ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
NPS Website
Puʻukoholā Heiau meaning “Temple on the Hill of the Whale” is one of the oldest man-made structures in the National Park Service, dating back to the 1500’s. Located in the northwestern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors can walk trails around the grounds of the sacred temple area and if lucky, spot one of the sharks that frequent the submerged shoreline portion of the ruins.
Passport Cancellation Information:
Available at the visitor’s center in Kawaihae, Hawaii:
62-3601 Kawaihae Rd,
Kawaihae, HI 96743
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
NPS Website
Most often referred to by visitor’s as “Pearl Harbor” and formally known as World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument offers visitor’s a personal and historical tour of one of the most tragic days in United States history. For more information on the national monument, see Park Chasers infographic on the park:
Related Posts
Passport Cancellation Information:
Passport stamps are available at the monument bookstore. Visitor’s can pick up stamps for:
The USS Arizona Memorial; The USS Oklahoma Memorial; The USS Utah Memorial; Battleship Missouri Memorial; Pacific Aviation Museum; and WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
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