Find History and Solitude in Hawaiʻi at One of the Least Visited National Park Units

I love Hawaiʻi and I love national parks. And, as you likely know, I am not alone. Somewhat surprisingly though, one of the least-visited national park units is a fascinating historic site in Hawaiʻi. In 2023, more than 325 million people visited the National Park Service's 433 units, and 9.6 million folks made a trip to the Aloha State. Of those, almost three-quarters of a million took in the sights at Haleakalā National Park on Maui and 1.7 million paid their respects at Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oʻahu.

Over on the Big Island, another 1.6 million visitors surely marveled at the dramatic beauty of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the 54th most-visited NPS unit, just behind Mt. Rainier National Park and just ahead of Shenandoah National Park. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is just one of five NPS units on the Big Island. It's located on the rainier Hilo side, while the other four units are found on the more popular Kona side.

Despite all the visitors to the island and its parks, though, one of the Big Island's NPS units is among the least visited in the service. Only about 23,000 people visited Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site in 2023, ranking it 331 out of the 393 NPS units that maintain visitor statistics.

This strikes me as a little bizarre, as Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is not difficult to reach—it's right off the highway and sits directly above the Kohala Coast, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, where you can see humpback whales spouting and breaching in the winter and spring. In fact, it practically shares a parking lot with one of the most popular beaches along this stretch of coastline, Spencer Beach Park—and it's only eight minutes north of one of Hawaiʻi's best-known strands, Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area.

The site offers a fascinating glimpse into Hawaiian history and is widely considered the place where King Kamehameha the Great consolidated his power and began his unification of the islands of Hawaiʻi. He did so after completing the massive heiau, or temple, on the site as an offering to the gods in 1791. It's also thought to be near the site of Kamehameha's birth.

Today, guests will find an open and welcoming visitor center with friendly and knowledgeable staff who are eager to answer questions. One of the benefits of this site's lack of visitors is that you can often walk the short, 0.7-mile trail up to the ruins or find some shade on a bench overlooking the ocean and have the whole place to yourself. The heiau, itself, is closed to visitors, as it is considered a sacred site, but you can hike up pretty close to it and see the incredible stonework involved in making the massive structure.

The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail—another of the NPS units on the Big Island—passes through Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site as it traces the coastline all the way to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It's a beautiful, rugged, and exposed hike for those who are willing to grab their packs, download AllTrails Plus, and hit the trail. Or, you can just bring your suit and sunscreen and meander next door to the beach when you're done exploring the historic site.

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site doesn’t see very many visitors in a year—but you should make sure you’re one of them because this fascinating historic site in Hawaiʻi should not be missed.

What are some other surprisingly off-the-beaten-path national parks in Hawaiʻi? We’d love to hear about them, so please send us your suggestions through our nomination form.

If you are feeling inspired to see this sacred site for yourself, you can find it at 62-3601 Kawaihae Road Kawaihae, HI 96743, or start planning your trip by visiting the official website of the National Park Service and using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.