Everyone Needs To Visit These 6 National Parks In Hawaii As Soon As Possible
By Megan Shute|Updated on January 29, 2022(Originally published January 23, 2022)
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
From magnificent white sand beaches and crystalline waters, to mountain peaks and continuously erupting volcanoes, the Hawaiian Islands are home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world; as well as some pretty fascinating history.
And with a visit to each of these six national parks in Hawaii, you will not only see awe-inspiring places and landscapes, but learn about our history and culture as well. There’s no wrong order to list these stunning spots, so we went right ahead and started with:
With more than 323,000 acres to explore, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the state’s largest national park, and it’s still growing! This is one of the only national parks that can say that.
The park is home to Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive subaerial volcano. The volcanoes are absolutely astonishing, and erupt on a regular basis.
While it would take days– or even weeks – to explore all that this captivating state park has to offer, you absolutely must check out Kilauea Caldera, Thurston Lava Tube, Chain of Craters Road, the Ha’akulamanu Sulfur Banks, as well as the four-mile Kilauea Iki Trail.
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2. Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, State Hwy 160, H?naunau, HI 96726, USA
Located on the west coast of the Big Island is this national historical park, full of archaeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian "place of refuge." The site, once home to Hawaiian royalty and those who broke a law or defeated military, is a spiritual place to visit.
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The Puʻuhonua protected all of the outcasts: the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, and even civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua.
On the small island of Molokai, surrounded by 1,600-foot cliffs on one side and the Pacific on the other, Kalaupapa served as a leper colony from the early 1900s to 1969.
There are no roads that lead to Kalaupapa – only a torturous mountain path accessible by hiking, or by riding on the back of a mule.
Kalaupapa is now a U.S. National Park, and home to a dwindling population, those of whom are outnumbered exponentially by those in the cemetery – where an estimated 2,000 graves lie unmarked, in addition to those with headstones. If you’re looking for things to do in Hawaii that are steeped in history, Kalaupapa is the place to go.
Traversing nearly 175 miles of pristine coastline on Hawaii Island is the Ala Kahakai Trail, established to access the traditional Hawaiian culture and natural resources.
The section of trail between Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and Anaeho'omalu Bay is the most popularly-travelled.
The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail gives the opportunity to showcase the ancient preserved and historic trails, so that all future generations can continue to access the areas of great ancestors. This is a wonderful, historic national park in Hawaii to visit.
Just 27 square miles short of equaling the entire size of Oahu, Mount Haleakala is a gentle giant: a dormant volcano that has inspired those who make the journey to its summit for centuries.
Translating to “House of the Sun,” Haleakala rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level, comprises 75 percent of Maui Island, and is home to desert-like conditions, rainforests, and everything in between.
The national park covers an area of approximately 33,000 acres, and the Haleakala crater is a massive seven miles across, two miles wide, and more than 2,600 feet deep. The Crater Trail is difficult, but worth it. Expect to climb over 3,000 feet of elevation gain throughout the hike, over 11.2 miles. Make sure to bring sun protection for your journey!
6. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Kaloko-Honok?hau National Historical Park, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Located on the Big Island, visitors come to see the two unique fish ponds, the green sea turtles, and the hiking. Plan ahead with sun protection, plenty of water, and if possible — skip the busy summer months. Visiting this sacred site is one of the best things to do outside in Hawaii if you love culture and history, so make sure to put this on your bucket list!
Have you visited these national parks in Hawaii? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
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National Parks in Hawaii
Megan McDonald|January 28, 2022
How many acres of parkland is in the Hawaiian islands?
Because of Hawaii’s incredible natural beauty, you’ll find 50 gorgeous parks spread across five stunning Hawaiian islands. The parks encompass over 30,000 acres of protected lands.
How many historical sites are in the Hawaiian islands?
The Hawaiian islands are home to 33 historical sites that encompass ancient Hawaiian archaeological remains, as well as World War II landmarks.
