Media release | National Park Service

Closure updates for West Hawai`i National Parks:
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Parks continue to assess tsunami related damage.

Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park staff continued to assess damage to park resources, trails, and coastal areas today. The tsunami came ashore at Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Parks on the morning of March 11, 2011, entered into the near coastal regions of the parks, over topping walls and surged inland hundreds of feet. National Park Service crews continued assessing coastal areas of both National Parks on March 13.

At Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park the unimproved road to Kaloko Fishpond remains closed as the coastal trail, picnic and parking area at the pond have been damaged and debris cover the ground far inland. The Hale Ho`okipa visitor contact station along Queen Ka`ahumanu Hwy is open 8:30am – 4:00pm daily to provide visitors information about the park and safe access paths to the coastal regions.

Much of Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park will remain closed as resource crews assess damage to the park and begin clearing debris. On March 14, visitors will be able to access limited areas of the park including: the visitor center, paved parking area, the amphitheater and the canoe halau from 9:30am – 4:00pm. The royal grounds, pu`uhonua, picnic area, coastal and 1871 trails all remain closed to entry. At Pu`uhonua o Honaunau, the tsunami surges entered the royal grounds and fish ponds throughout the day on March 11, scattering marine debris and coastal vegetation throughout the park grounds.

Please assist national park staff by honoring these park closures.

Further information on Park closures will follow as they become available. For further information about the parks please call Pu`uhonua o Honaunau NHP (808) 328-2326 ext 0 and listen for closure updates, or Kaloko Honokohau (808) 326-9057 during operating hours.