Much is left up to the imagination when you watch koholā (humpback whales) from shore on Hawaiʻi Island. You will see plenty of blows in the distance, as well as tail and pectoral flipper slaps. You may luck into spyhopping or a dramatic breach — but you need binoculars or a spotting scope to really see what’s going on. Mostly, you have to be patient and fill in the visual blanks.
"As defined by Pukuʻi's Hawaiian Dictionary, a kiʻi is an image, statue, or likeness that serves as symbolic representations of the akua, or the multitude of Hawaiian gods, deities, and venerated ancestors. While images most commonly took the form of wooden carvings, they were also formed out of pōhaku (stone), carved into pūnohunohu (sea urchin spines), or as ornate feathered images."
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park officials say they will incrementally increase entrance and camping fees over the next three years to fund deferred maintenance and improvement projects within the park, and to meet national standards for parks with similar visitor amenities.
For less than seven cents a day, visitors can enjoy Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, and Haleakalā National Park by purchasing the annual tri-park pass, which is good for one year from the date of purchase.
Clean-up is ongoing in both Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau national historical parks in Hawaii from last week's tsunami, which officials say overtopped walls and surged hundreds of feet inland.
Residents of Hawaii, or mainland travelers who visit the islands frequently each year, can find a bargain in a "TriPark Pass" being sold for entry into Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau, and Haleakala national park entrance stations.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Pu'uhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park both celebrate birthdays in July. These two parks were renamed for cultural-political reasons, underscoring the importance of labels and the need to respect native peoples.