Kaloko-Honokōhau petroglyph boardwalk reopens after months of repairs

The petroglyph boardwalk at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is open again after months of repairs, giving visitors a safer way to view one of North Kona’s most sensitive cultural sites without walking directly on the lava field. The rebuilt walkway restores access to a feature that sits at the center of the park’s balance between public visitation and preservation, with new planks replacing worn wood that had prompted the closure.

Repair work began Oct. 27, 2025, and the reopening marks a practical upgrade as well as a cultural one. Park materials say the boardwalk is about one-half mile, or a 10- to 15-minute walk, from the visitor center, making it one of the park’s most reachable interpretive stops. Bench seating and a shaded structure are also expected to be installed soon, adding comfort for visitors while keeping foot traffic concentrated on the designated path.

That matters at Kaloko-Honokōhau, a 1,160-acre park established in 1978 to preserve, interpret and perpetuate traditional Native Hawaiian activities and culture. The park sits on the Kona Coast on the site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 through the broader Honokōhau settlement. The National Park Service describes the place as a “wahi pana,” a storied and revered landscape that preserves nearly intact sites tied to Native Hawaiians from prehistoric to historic times.

The park’s cultural features include Aimakapa Fishpond, Kaloko Fishpond, Aiōpio fishtrap, Puuoina Heiau and historic trails, along with petroglyphs carved into horizontal lava surfaces. Park materials note images such as spears, canons, sailing ships and muskets, reminders that the site records a long sweep of Hawaiian life and contact history. The U.S. Geological Survey says ancient Hawaiians used Aimakapa Fishpond for more than 600 years, underscoring how deeply the landscape is tied to water, food production and coastal settlement.

Kaloko-Honokōhau is also a marine and coastal wildlife preserve with wetlands that support migratory birds, adding another layer to the stewardship challenge. The park is located about 3 miles south of Kailua-Kona and 3 miles north of Kona International Airport, and it is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the visitor center open the same hours. For residents and visitors alike, the reopened boardwalk offers a controlled way to experience a fragile cultural landscape that still carries the history of Hawaii Island’s Kona coast.