The Tropics
The Tropics is a curatorial topic the National Park Service uses to connect parks, stories, and collections. Explore units below where this theme shows up in exhibits, landscapes, or programs. You will find the the tropics topic represented across 6 parks and sites in the National Park System. Browse the full list to see which destinations match your interests.
6 parks and sites (NPS)
Featured parks for the tropics
Upcoming events
Upcoming programs and events at parks in this collection (from the NPS Events API).
Ulana 'Ie'ie with Uncle Pomai
Join Uncle Pomai Brown in his sharing of the ancient skill of Ulana 'ie'ie (weaving the roots of climbing screwpine); used to make hina'i (fishtraps), mahiole (helmets), Ki'i akua (god images), and more.
Interpretive Talk
Attend our daily interpretive talk by a Park Ranger. Call the Visitor Center to see what program is being presented at this time. Topics will range from Volcanoes, Fruit Bats, History of the Park, Samoan Fale, The Coconut, to Samoa Legends. Can't wait to see you there! Most programs will take place at the Visitor Center. However, some may be presented elsewhere; double check with the Visitor Center when you call.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Annual Cultural Festival
Hoʻolohe i ka leo o ka ʻāina “Listen to the voice of the land” Celebrate Hawaiian culture, history, and traditions at the annual cultural festival at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park . Since 1976, this special community event has brought together cultural practitioners, park staff, and visitors for a weekend of sharing ʻike, traditional skills, and Hawaiian cultural practices in one of Hawaiʻi’s most significant sacred places. Festival activities may include hula, lei making, weaving, ʻohe kāpala, Hawaiian games, music, cultural demonstrations, and hands-on activities for all ages. Join us in honoring the enduring relationship between people, place, and the living traditions of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.
All parks (6)
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Established in 2000 to preserve, protect and interpret traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile corridor encompassing a network of culturally and historically significant trails. This "trail by the sea" traverses wahi pana (storied landscapes), ancient Hawaiian sites and over 200 ahupuaʻa (traditional land divisions).
Buck Island Reef National Monument
Welcome to Buck Island Reef National Monument, called “the finest marine garden in the Caribbean Sea” by President John F. Kennedy. Snorkel the famous underwater trail, explore endangered elkhorn coral reefs. Hike the trails on the 176-acre island to the observation platform for an unparallel view. Discover a vibrant world above and beneath the waves in this Caribbean paradise.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protects approximately 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and associated flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species.
National Park of American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa invites you to discover the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of the South Pacific. Experience a world unlike any other, where natural beauty and cultural heritage are protected for future generations. Join us in exploring these islands of sacred earth!
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua.
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument includes federal submerged lands within the 3-mile belt off the island of St. John. These waters support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs and other ecosystems such as shoreline mangrove forests and seagrass beds.