Puukohola National Historic Park
Puukohola National Historic Park
Puukohola National Historic Park
4.5
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Monday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Tuesday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Wednesday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Thursday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Friday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Saturday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
Sunday
7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
About
Historical park honoring King Kamehameha
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
212 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
77
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
2
SonomaNut
Sonoma, CA1,121 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
Not expected to find such an interesting native history location. We learned a lot from an in person ranger talk, not the typical movie. Who could guess how many round lava stones can be transported 20 miles, one hand to another, over 10 years. Yes, a lot. Walk around to see the structures round lava rock can build.
Written January 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa J
Plant City, FL960 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
An amazing story and an amzing temple. There is a really good movie that explains the story of Pu'ukohola and the king. They do not let you go up into the temple so there is really not much to see there. There are a few artifacts in the gift shop to see. The view is beautiful and they said they saw whales that morning.
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandy P
Rowlett, TX34 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
The park ranger really made it great. Told the story and history of this site. When you know the history you can really appreciate the tour. With a smartphone you can download a QR code with a 30 minute self guided tour of the area. Highly recommend. The path is paved and you can walk it in flip flops. Nice arrangements of artifacts inside the office area
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie G
Colleyville, TX47 contributions
Jun 2022
So glad we stopped! This is an amazing temple and historic site built in part by King Kamehamema I before he started his conquest to unite the Hawaiian Islands. There is an informative film and and even better NPS ranger at the gift shop that will share with you the history of the site. There was no one there the day we visited. It was so beautiful and interesting! I would highly recommend you stop by Anuenue and get some delicious shave ice before or after your visit since it's right there!
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel W
Leesburg, VA18 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
The ranger at the visitor center did a nice presentation on the site, history of the Hawaiian flag, and other historical information about the site.
The views of the ocean are good, the path is paved and very easy.
Unfortunately, the upper loop trails are closed for work so you have not have access to the lower trail near the coastline and can’t near the Heiau
The views of the ocean are good, the path is paved and very easy.
Unfortunately, the upper loop trails are closed for work so you have not have access to the lower trail near the coastline and can’t near the Heiau
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
psudino
Weehawken, NJ4,483 contributions
Mar 2020
This is the legend that our tour driver told us. King Kamehameha wanted to build a temple to appease the gods and bring all of Hawaii under single rule to unify the people. His brother, Keliʻimaikaʻi, was charged with bringing all the of the stones from 14 miles away to this site. There was form of transportation available to bring the stones so thousands or men stood a few feet apart and passed the stones by hand. This took over a year but they got the job done.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AyaHawaii
United States1,901 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Heiau, old temple of Hawaiian monarch, locates all of the Hawaii state, but this is the best place to see how they live ancient world. Visiting the park center and watching video will be easy to understand that why this historical site shapes look like this. Trail takes about 30 minutes, up and down pass. They do not open all visitor center, but still you can see part of the exhibition. Please enjoy ancient Hawai’ian world.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CZ1143
Aurora, IL212 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
This is one of four sites operated by the National Park Service on the Big Island. This site wasn’t on any “top” lists of things to do on the internet, but it was an amazing find. There were only a handful of visitors when we were there. Site includes a new 27 min video about all the Hawaiian history of this site. There is a walking path around the site to view several ruins. We spent about 90 minutes here, and we were glad we stopped.
Written January 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike F
Antigo, WI627 contributions
Aug 2022
Great stop, great history and beautiful place! Do the audio tour! Very glad we were able to make it here, my boys loved it. Half hour to see it all, and the gift shop is great. The ranger was awesome and did a great job with my boys; completing the book and getting their badge. We really enjoyed our time...and its right by the beach! Perfect!
Written August 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb W
Reno, NV2,434 contributions
Feb 2023
I can't remember how many times we drove by this and didn't notice it. This is a great self-service tour. There is a shop, movie on loop and short hike. It's good to get a bit of history and we really enjoyed this stop.
Written February 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Looking to know where to see the lava flow on the Big Island without the expensive tours
Written December 26, 2017
The only place you can see an active lava flow is in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can see the lava if you do a long and arduous hike, which is why some folks opt for the tour. Info for the hike can be found through the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park website or asking a park ranger when you visit. Puukohola is a cool place to see some native ruins, but is not close to the active volcano.
Written December 26, 2017
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