Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Visiting Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Big Island is an encounter with a living cultural landscape that reflects how Natick Hawaiians sustained themselves for centuries in balance with land and sea.
In the park are the traditional fishponds built from lava rock and guided by tidal flow. Fish were allowed to enter and grow which provided a renewable food source. The surrounding lava fields hold the imprint of everyday life: house platforms, petroglyphs and the remains of a village.
Recognizing the national significance of this place, Jimmy Carter signed legislation in 1978 establishing Kaloko Honokohau as a National Historical Park. This designation marked a growing acknowledgement that indigenous knowledge systems are central to the American story and deserve to be protected.
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