Are you looking for kid-friendly Hawaii Big Island national parks? Keep scrolling to read my tips for exploring Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park with kids.
This post about Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Are you visiting the Big Island with your family?
There are so many fun things to do in Hawaii, but did you know there are also some amazing national parks on the Big Island?
The Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is a great place for kids and families. It’s one of the best national parks for kids!
You can explore ancient Hawaiian fishing ponds, see a pier, and even spot some green sea turtles.
Plus, it is just minutes from Kona airport! If you’re looking for an easy half-day trip that will give everyone something fun to do, this is it.
And if you visit with kids, they can get a Junior Ranger booklet to complete and turn in for a badge!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s go exploring!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting the Big Island with kids.
Best Kid-Friendly Big Island Tours/Activities
- Swim with Dolphins (this is a unique experience for kids of all ages)
- Private Surf Lessons for Kids (this is the BEST way for your kids to learn how to surf in Hawaii)
- Kona Submarine Tour (my kids love seeing sunken shipwrecks)
- Legends of Hawaii Luau (the is the most popular luau for families)
- Waterfall Ziplining (this is the top kid-friendly zipline on the Big Island for families)
- Kona ATV Tour (we love this one because they also do cultural activities)
Best Kid-Friendly Big Island Resorts
- Hilton Waikoloa Village (this is a mega kid-friendly resort where you can swim with dolphins or just enjoy their massive pool area)
- Courtyard by Marriott’s King Kamehameha Beach Hotel (this is a moderately-priced Kona hotel right on a little lagoon)
- Fairmont Orchid (this is a swanky resort with incredible kids’ programming and an awesome pool area)
Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii?
One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Big Island Itinerary, complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Hawaii Big Island National Parks
There are several Hawaii national parks on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can find my full list of national parks in Hawaii HERE.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The most famous Big Island national park is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is where you can often see lava in Hawaii as long as the volcano is erupting. You can also explore lava tubes, see a’a’ and pahoehoe lava rocks, and so much more.
If you go, I recommend booking a night or two at the historic Volcano House Hotel.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
This is another really cool Big Island park celebrating Hawaiian history and culture. Here, you can walk around the Place of Refuge to see tiki statues, Hawaiian structures, and explore the lava rocks.
It’s also right next to Two-Step Beach, a popular snorkeling spot. So, it’s easy to make this a full-day adventure. Read my full guide to the Place of Refuge HERE.
Pu’ukohala Heiau National Historic Site
A heiau is an ancient Hawaiian sacred place. The Pu’ukohala Heiau National Historic Site is a symbol of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under the rule of King Kamehameha.
Where is Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park?
Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park is located less than 10 minutes away from the Kona Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii. The address is 73-4786 Kanalani St. #14 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
There are actually 3 locations in this park. You’ll want to head to the visitor center first. There are clear signs from Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway.
From there, you can drive back out the the highway and turn left to go to the pier or right to go to the fishing ponds.
Why is Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park Important?
The focus of the Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park Park is all about fishing. The Kona Coast has a hot and dry climate, and the Native Hawaiians rely heavily on fishing as a way to survive.
In ancient Hawaii, the land was divided into ahupua’a. These are pie-shaped slices of land that go from the mountains down to the sea. That way, families had access to all the natural resources they might need.
The Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park is a great way to see what the sea part of the ahupua’a looked like. Here, you can see fishing ponds, a canoe house, and even petroglyphs.
5 Reasons to Visit This Big Island National Park with Kids
You’ll definitely want to come to see this Kona National Historical Park. Here are a few reasons why!
1. Informative Walk
Your first stop should be the visitor’s center. This is where you can chat with park rangers and grab a map of the area.
Then, you’ll walk through the visitor center to get to an informative walk that ends at the parking lot. It’s a super short walk, and there are informative signs along the way talking about Hawaiian culture and history.
If you’re participating in the Junior Ranger program, you’ll definitely need to answer some questions here.
2. Easy Hike to Beach
People with older kids can choose to do the 20-minute hike from the visitor’s center to the beach, however, there’s a much easier way for families with little ones.
You can drive to the marina and take a 5-minute walk over volcanic rock and through a forest to get to the beach area. This is what I recommend doing with younger kids.
The short hike is pretty awesome because you’ll walk over volcanic rock, go through a little forest, and then end up on a sandy coastal trail.
3. Canoe House
I admit this was my main reason for visiting this Hawaii national park. I’m a geek for cultural things and historic places, and this looked way too cool to pass up.
This is open for people to walk through and explore. It’s pretty interesting to take a look at how the structure was built and attached together. Plus, it makes a cute Instagram spot on the Big Island.
4. Sea Turtles
This is an awesome Kona beach for spotting sea turtles. They really do just hang out near the shore. You’ll definitely want to keep lots of distance as it’s illegal to touch a sea turtle in Hawaii.
So, if you go into the water to snorkel or just cool off, keep an eye out for sea turtles and keep your space. This is another reason why it’s so important to wear reef-safe sunscreen.
5. Junior Ranger Program
Like most U.S. national parks, you can participate in the Junior Ranger program at Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park.
The park ranger will walk you through the booklet and explain where to go in order to fill it all out. The Junior Ranger program is for kids ages 6 and older, but they also have an easier booklet for kids ages 5 and younger.
Tips for Visiting Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
When to Go
The park can get really crowded between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is also when the temperature is the hottest. Instead, aim to go right at 8:30 a.m. when the park opens or in the early evening.
What to Wear
You’ll definitely want to wear shoes that can get wet. If you want to see more of the fishing ponds, you’ll need to walk through some water.
What to Pack
Because it can get so warm, make sure to pack lots of drinks for everyone. If you think you might want to stay at the beach for a while, bring snacks, beach essentials, and sunscreen for sun protection.
Get my full Big Island packing list to see what else you need for your trip.
Download the National Parks App
A friend of mine suggested I download the National Parks App, and it was super helpful at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.
Hawaii National Parks with Kids FAQs
The Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park is on the Big Island of Hawaii.
There are 6 national parks in Hawaii: Haleakala National Park on Maui; Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, and Pu’ukohala Heiau National Historical Park on the Big Island.
There are lots of cool beach parks in Kona. I recommend the Old Kona Airport Beach if you’re looking for amazing sunsets and lots of room to spread out. There’s also Magic Sands Beach Park which is a great place to hang out for the day.
The Big Island is home to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and several national historical parks. Maui has Haleakala National Park. And Molokai has the Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
Honokohau is “the bay where waters congregate” in Hawaiian. This Big Island national historical park is located on a naturally curved shoreline, so it makes sense!
National Park in Hawaii on the Big Island Wrap-Up
I literally had to drag my son away from Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, and he asked to come back later in the day. He just really enjoyed the small beach area and the cool Hawaiian canoe house.
I highly recommend going first thing in the morning. It got a lot more crowded as we were leaving this Kona national park.
It is one of the national park sites we will definitely come back to! It is fun to see some of the traditional native Hawaiian activities like the Canoe House, and the Kaloko fishponds as well.
Looking for more things to do on the Big Island? Check out the best Big Island waterfalls, how to tour a macadamia nut factory, my guide to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and the Aloha Adventure Farms ATV Tour.
P.S. Join our Hawaii Travel with Kids Facebook group to get connected with other families planning a trip to Hawaii!