A sacred site, carrying the powerful mana of 23 interred Aliʻi chiefs, the Puʻuhonua and Royal Grounds were used by the Hawaiians for centuries.

My oldest daughter had visited Puuhonua o Honaunau, Place of Refuge, as part of her RISD class this past January, and my middle daughter kept pestering her to take us here. Owned by the Hawaiian Royal Family as part of the royal grounds, this sacred place that was a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers is now a national historic park.

But it isn’t as gentle as it sounds. Our fishing charter boat guide told us that lawbreakers who were sentenced to death were given a head start and then pursued by the ancient Hawaiian “guard” who treated this as a kind of sport. If you reached the Puʻuhonua, you would be pardoned by Kahuna and could live out your life here. And this beautiful spot included fish farm ponds, coconut palms, housing, and canoes.

The Hale o Keawe Temple, guarded by carved wooden Kiʻi, symbolizing Hawaiian gods, is a very sacred site. It was build in the 1600s to house the bones of Keawe-‘Ī-kekahi-ali ‘i-o-ka-moku, King of Hawai‘i Island. After Keawe’s death 22 others were cremated and deposited in the temple along with numerous unnamed warriors. The sacred bones were full mana (spiritual power) that emanated out and surrounded the refuge. Today, the remains of the chiefs rest inside the mausoleum at Mauna Ala on the Island of O‘ahu and Hale o Keawe was reconstructed 50 years ago to help bring Hawaiian history to life. (read more about Hale o Keawe).

Lawbreakers were not the only residents of  The Puʻuhonua. It was also a safe haven for anyone during times of war including women, children, and the elderly who did not have to survive an ocean gauntlet to reside here.

If you are visiting the Big Island and want to visit Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, here are some suggestions from their site. We highly recommend coming here to learn more about Native Hawaiian Culture in this beautiful and scared spot.

ACTIVITIES:

• Snorkeling: Right next to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau is Hōnaunau Bay, one of our favorite snorkeling spots here on the Big Island! The bay teems with tropical fish and sea turtles. Large brain coral formations and sea arches make up the underwater landscape. Note that you’ll need to bring your own snorkel gear.
• Road trip! A visit to the park fits perfectly into a day-long road trip that also includes a visit to a Kona coffee farm and lots of snorkeling. See our South Kona scenic drive description for details.
• Coffee? The south Kona district is world famous for its Kona coffee. See our Kona Coffee Guide for a list of our favorite coffee farm tours.

WHERE TO EAT NEARBY

There are plenty of good places to stop for a bite along the way back to Kona.

• For an authentic Hawaiian plate lunch, head to Super J’s, in Honaunau, famous for their laulaus.
• Just south of Captain Cook, The Coffee Shack offers standard American breakfast and lunch fare, with stunning bird’s eye views of the coast thousands of feet below. They also serve good pie and coffee.
• Further north, Kainaliu town has several different places to choose from, including Annie’s Burgers, Cultivate Good Food for vegan fare, and Kaya’s Cafe, a local coffee shop with excellent homemade quiche and vegan/gluten-free baked goods.
• Historic Teshima’s restaurant serves up a mix of local, Japanese, and American food in a sit-down environment.

What are your favorite children’s books about Hawaii or places to visit? Thanks for sharing!

p.s. Related posts:

Hawaiian Folk Tales & Children’s Books

We Learn About Native Hawaiian Culture

The Hawaiian Ukelele? All About the Ukelele for Kids!

Family Reunion Vacation in Oahu, Hawaii

Exotic Fruit Challenge: Mamey Sapote

Exotic Fruit Challenge: Lilikoi or Passion Fruit

Exotic Fruit Challenge: Guyabano or Soursop

Exotic Fruit Challenge: Cherimoya (Take 2)

Family Challenge: 8 Mile (Death Defying) Hike

Our Secret Beach in Kauai

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