We were told to come here to look for sharks and we saw many large sandtiger sharks go in and out of the harbor. We were told they are drawn in by the fisherman! We of course did not go in, but watched safely from the rocks.
We were told to come here to look for sharks and we saw many large sandtiger sharks go in and out of the harbor. We were told they are drawn in by the fisherman! We of course did not go in, but watched safely from the rocks.
We accessed the park by going down to the Honokohau Harbor and taking the first right so that you stay on the right side of the harbor. Drive to the end and follow the path to the Shoreline, about is a 5 minute walk. There were a dozen turtles lounging on the sand - keep a distance of 20’ - which made our visit cool. The water is sheltered though too stirred up for snorkeling on our visit. Perfect for little kids since it is protected by a reef. Interesting historical perspectives with the lava wall and fish traps. Worth a visit and easy access.
Lots of great stuff to see. Fish ponds and fish traps. Many different ways to access the park resources. Take a long walk along the coast line, or move the car closer and take a much shorter walk. Beautiful beach. Green sea turtles. The NPS Rangers are nice and full of info. The rules on masks are enforced so even with Corona going about it is a safe place to visit. Add another National Park to your NP Passport!
The Place of Refuge is a very important historical area, which has been preserved as a part of the National Park network in Hawai’i... the structures here have been restored and well maintained, and offer a glimpse of what life was like before outside contact. Honu turtles often sun themselves on the small sandy beach here (always a highlight!). It’s a must visit place whenever you’re on the Big Island — enjoy!
Every park ranger we met advised us to come here to see sea turtles. Go to the harbor, not the main park entrance. Park near the rear of the harbor and you will see a sign for the National park. It is a 5 minute walk to the Apio fish trap. I don’t know what a fish trap is- just looks like a small beach. The turtles float lazily in a few inches of water to warm up in the afternoon. It was a real treat. Very peaceful.
This is where the Place of Refuge is and it is absolutely gorgeous! The drive down here though was on an extremely narrow, twisty road that was pretty stressful to drive down.