Skip to content
The Green Adventures
Find my parkMapGreat Smoky MountainsZionYellowstoneSee all: ParksCaliforniaAlaskaUtahSee all: By stateNational monumentsSeashores and lakeshoresAll 412 Park Service sitesSee all: All sitesWhich park should I visit?Pass calculatorCampground finderSee all: Trip toolsAnnual pass 2026International visitorsFree days 2026See all: Fees and passes

National Historic Site · Hawaii

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

National Historic Site in Hawaii. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historic Site
StateHawaii
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkHaleakalā (53 mi)
Closest airportMUE (10 mi)
Heiau standing high above Pelekane Bay, as seen at sunset.
The heiau stands today atop Puʻukoholā (the hill of the whale) overlooking Pelekane Bay. Photo: NPS Photo

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a national historic site run by the National Park Service in Hawaii.

In the park service’s words

How many places in America can you walk in the footsteps of a king? Where else has a stranded sailor risen up to become a great chief over an entire island? Where else can you experience the culminating event of a people, foretold from centuries past? Where else can you stand on a beach and watch as sharks pass over a submerged temple? Experience all this and much more, only at Pu'ukoholā Heiau!

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Become a B.A.R.K. Ranger at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site (30 to 60 Minutes): The park is open year round, we welcome all fur friends who would like to be apart of our National Park Service family. No matter what the weather may be here in Hawai'i, our fur friends love a walk in the park. Time for a "Pawsitive" experience.
  • Sharks, Whales and Dolphin Viewing (30 Minutes): Sharks, Whales and Dolphins are often visitors to the shores of the park and can be seen with the naked eye and, even better, with binoculars.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:30PM. Covered, open air lanai at visitor center open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM daily. Parking Lot Entrance (Top) Gate will be closed by 4:00 PM Daily, however the Parking Lot Exit (Bottom) Gate will close at 4:30 PM Daily. All vehicles parked in the visitor center parking lot after closing hours will be locked in or towed at owner's expense. In case of Emergency call 911

Getting there

From Keahole (Kona) International Airport: Head east on Keahole Airport Rd. Turn left at traffic light onto HI-19. Follow HI-19 to Spencer Beach Park Rd. (26.1 mi) Turn left onto HI-270 (0.4 mi) Turn left onto Spencer Beach Park Rd. (0.3 mi) Destination will be second right on Spencer Beach Park Rd. (Approximately 32 minute drive 27.5 mi)

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Waimea Kohala Airport (MUE) Waimea (Kamuela), HI No road route 10 Regional
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) Kailua-Kona, HI No road route 25 Large hub
Hana Airport (HNM) Hana, HI No road route 55 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

Weather

The weather in the park is typically hot and sunny with daytime temperatures in the upper 80's. An excellent time to experience the park is in the morning and in the late afternoon when the temperatures are a bit cooler. The park is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. However, the park and or trail does occasionally close because of high winds or dangerous storm conditions. Please check with the visitor center or your hotel for any weather advisories or hazardous conditions on the day of your visit.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Haleakalā, about 53 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site?

No entrance fee.

Where is Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site?

In Hawaii. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Waimea Kohala Airport, about 10 miles away.

More sites nearby

Aerial photograph of trail through lava along the Hawaiian Coast TrailsAla Kahakai National Historic Trail National Historic Trail in Hawaii. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed. Engine House and tavern Historic sitesAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site National Historic Site in Pennsylvania. No entrance fee. 5 hikes listed. A water tower on the horizon next to trees Historic sitesAmache National Historic Site National Historic Site in Colorado. No entrance fee. A cannon sits out in front of a replica of part of the wooden stockade walls once at Andersonville Historic sitesAndersonville National Historic Site National Historic Site in Georgia. No entrance fee. Andrew Johnson Homestead with snow Historic sitesAndrew Johnson National Historic Site National Historic Site in Tennessee. No entrance fee. A group of visitors stand around a large wooden apparatus in a plaza courtyard. Historic sitesBent's Old Fort National Historic Site National Historic Site in Colorado. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed.