Big Island Paddling

Kaloko-Honokohau Nat. Park - Harbor
Rating: C5/E5/P3 (rating information)

Honokaohau Harbor

(Click on pictures for large view)

This was a challenging if not interesting paddle, especially on a windy day.  You gain access via Honokohau Harbor: drive in the entrance of this fishing harbor and take the first right, follow that around til you get to the parking lot, head left to the harbor and drive along there towards the ocean.  There are three boat ramps on this side of the harbor, and they are less used as you get towards the ocean.  There is also a restaraunt and bar with a Fish Shop next door to it.

Unload your kayak and equipment in any empty slot (make sure no boat is coming into that one) and then park, so the next boat can unload, or if you have a small one just carry it in from the nearby parking. 

Watch for other boats while in the harbor and stay to the right at all times.  Just outside the harbor entrance to the South is a cove which hosts a nice black sand beach.  The point at the end of the cove is a popular snorkling/scuba spot and you will find tourist boats there most days.   To the North is the National Park around the rocky point -- stay ocean of the point as the waves swell there and break hard.

The park is called Kaloko-Honokohau National Park, one of only two National Parks on the Big Island.  This park was the site of a very large Hawaiian Kingdom village and there are several fish ponds remaining from that time.  One is being restored on the far North end of the Park past the bay.  The access to that portion of the park is a road across from the new industrial area (park gate closes early evening, so if you want to stay late park just outside gate).  Several Queen pools (fresh water pools) exist along the shore as well as an impressive restorations of a canoe hut and temple along the inner cove.

To enter the cove come in slightly South and go with the flow of the waves to the cove entrance which is narrow and heads back towards the harbor (South).  Try and time yourself between wave sets as it can be tricky to turn into the cove on a windy or high swell day and make the narrow opening (you can see it by water color).

The cove is very tranquil and majestic with the white sand beach, lava rock island, restored Hawaiian structures, and often is popular with tourists in the know and local net fishermen.

Next to the cove is the vast majority of Honokohau Bay which is a large cresent moon with sand in/out beaches at the North end.  This is a very popular beach with the turtles and they can be seen most every day either lounging in the sun at the shore line or trying to time their meal off the shore rocks vegitation, to the waves.

The water is shallow in the bay as the lava shelve goes out about a half mile or so before dropping off.   Snorkling is not very good in the bay and as you get further out on the shelve the waves can stir the water up with sand allot.  While in the bay keep your eye on the waves as a high set can come in at any time.

The beach is also popular with nude bathers, but is not a legal nude beach, but that doesn't stop some people.  However, the park rangers are understandably mellow about such things if you don't flaunt it.

If you shore in the middle of the bay, walk over the sand burm and you will see a large lake of brine water that hosts many water foul.

If you choose to continue North you will go along the Park to the main entrance and the fish pond in restoration.   Past that is the infamous "Pines" -- private land that is "homesteaded" by the homeless, surfers and campers on extended holiday.

aloha

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