Pu'ukoholā Heiau Walking Tour

Dogs Leashed

Features Historical Significance · Views

The Pu'ukoholā Heiau Trail is a paved walking trail that starts at the Visitor Center and circles several cultural sites in the area of the Pu'ukoholā Heiau. There is an audio tour ( nps.gov/puhe/learn/photosmu…) that can be downloaded from the park website that provides additional commentary on the history of the heiau and the history of Hawaii. Learn about King Kamehameha, the building of the Pu'ukoholā Heiau, the history of the Mailekini Heiau and Hale o Kapui Heiau, as well as important facts about the site. You can walk down to the shoreline and visit Pelekane, the royal courtyard. The trail follows the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail along the coast before approaching Samuel M. Spencer Park and then returns uphill to the Visitor Center. This tour provides a great deal of information to the visitor regarding the history of Hawaii and the cultural importance of the heiau.

Before going out on this hike, stop by the visitor center to get the audio tour link (if you don't download it from here) and watch the video to learn a little more about the landscape that you are about to walk through.

There are no fees for this national park unit. The closest restrooms are at the visitor center.

This is a paved trail, making running easy. The short nature of the trail probably dissuades most people from running here.

The Pu'ukoholā Heiau Trail is a paved walking trail that starts at the Visitor Center and circles several cultural sites in the area of the Pu'ukoholā Heiau. The trail is paved and allows for easy walking. It passes a tree with a bench, where you get a great view of the Pu'ukoholā Heiau and the Lele (offering tower). Follow the trail up to get a closer view of the heiau, but stop at the gate as this is a cultural historic site and should be respected.

Once you have enjoyed the view of the heiau, follow the trail downhill past the Mailekini Heiau and to the Stone Leaning Post Overlook. You may be able to catch views of blackfin sharks swimming in the bay. The trail goes down a set of stone steps closer to the coast. You can break off here and follow an unmaintained trail that runs out to the park boundary, or take in the view of the coast. Because sharks are common in the bay, it is not recommended to swim in this bay.

Follow the trail as it becomes the Ala Kahakai and snakes its way along the coast. Enjoy views of the ocean and keep an eye out for whales and other sea life, especially if visiting in the months of January through April. The trail approaches the Samuel M. Spencer Park. You can continue on into the park where there are picnic tables, sand beaches, and the opportunity to enjoy the ocean. To get back to the visitor center however, take a left and climb the hill back to the visitor center and parking area.

You may see humpback whales, blackfin sharks, spinner dolphins, or manta rays in the waters off the coast of the historic site. You may see various birds along the coast. Less often seen are mongoose, wild goats, and wild pigs.

The area is mostly desert, so while there are a few trees in the park, but not many.

Pu'ukoholā Heiau was built by King Kamehameha in 1790 and 1791 and is one of the last major sacred sites built in Hawaii before outside influences changed life on the islands. The heiau was dedicated to the war god Kū atop of Whale Hill at Kawaihae. The temple was built to fulfill a prophecy that if Kamehameha built this site, he would be the sole ruler of all the Hawaiian Islands. The audio tour does a great job describing the history of the heiau and other culturally important features of the site. Due to its cultural importance, the 34 acres of land that the heiau sits on were donated by the Queen Emma Foundation so that it could be come a national historic site thanks to an act of Congress.