Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
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Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site at a glance
- Best time
- March–April, October–November
- Trip length
- 2–4 hours to 1 day
- Don't miss
- Sharks, Whales and Dolphin Viewing
- Nearby city
- Kawaihae, HI
Explore this park
About Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
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!
Weather Information
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.
Operating Hours
Entrance & Exit
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
- Monday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Friday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday8:30AM - 4:30PM
Today's Hours
Pu'ukohola Heiau NHS is open during regular operational hours. Covered, open air portions at visitor center opens 8:30am-4:30pm daily. Parking stalls are available and accessible.
- Monday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Friday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday8:30AM - 4:30PM
Common questions
Planning Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
