Ancient Hawaiian Fishing Techniques Are Still Visible in This Coastal Village Frozen in Time Since 1300 AD

Lapakahi State Historical Park

Scattered throughout this 600-year-old fishing village on Big Island’s north coast are ancient house foundations, fishing shrines, and salt-making spots where Native Hawaiians lived and worked.

It’s basically a time capsule of ancient Hawaiian life, minus the tourist circus. And yeah, the views are still killer.

An Ancient Game Board

One of the highlights is the well-preserved Konane game board carved into stone at Lapakahi. This board from around 1500 CE has small holes for black and white pebbles made from volcanic rock and coral.

Despite being a game, Konane wasn’t just for fun. Hawaiian chiefs and warriors used it to build their strategic thinking, and these games sometimes settled arguments between nearby villages.

Artifacts of Ocean Salt Harvesting Techniques

Near the shore, you’ll spot clever stone salt pans that collect seawater which dried into salt. Locals used this salt to keep their fish fresh longer.

Lapakahi salt has unique minerals different from other island salt, so inland communities likely traded for it. These pans were put in perfect spots to get lots of sun. People used this salt-making method for over 500 years without changing it, and other Hawaiian communities copied the design.

A Fishing Shrine That Outlasted Missionaries

One of the most special structures is a fishing shrine (ko’a) that people kept using long after Europeans came.

While many religious sites were abandoned after missionaries arrived, people left offerings at this shrine until the 1870s. They line up perfectly with seasonal fish patterns, another example of how natives understood ocean life.

Items found here include special fishing hooks made from human bone, thought to have spiritual power. Tests found traces of offerings like ‘awa (kava) and certain types of seaweed considered sacred.

Ancient Systems For Moving Heavy Canoes

Researchers found marks suggesting people used a pulley system to move heavy canoes, something not found at other Hawaiian coastal sites. Wood tests show some canoes were made from koa trees harvested over 20 miles away in mountain forests.

An Ancient Stone Tool Shop

Among the ruins is a skilled stone tool workshop where crafters made tools using methods passed down through generations. Tool pieces come from other Hawaiian islands, showing they traded between islands. Some obsidian pieces match stone from Tahiti, suggesting contacts across the vast Pacific.

The workshop had different areas for rough shaping, fine finishing, and fixing tools, and even today, these stone tools make cutting edges sharper than modern steel.

A Mile Long Trail Through Hawaiian History

You can walk a 1.1-mile loop trail that takes you past 19 important sites with signs that explain what they are. Grab a brochure at the trailhead when you enter to guide you through all the stops.

Walking downhill, you’ll see rebuilt homes, old stone walls, and farming terraces that show how clever early Hawaiian builders were. Look for burial sites, traditional homes, tools, and native trees like hou, ulu, and hala.

Protected Ocean Waters For Snorkeling

Just offshore is the Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District, set up in 1979 and covering 146 acres of protected ocean. It has two zones: Subzone A includes Koai’e Cove and Subzone B goes 500 feet offshore.

For great snorkeling with lots of beautiful fish and fewer people, head to Captain Cook Monument (about an hour and a half drive) from the historical state park. Large boats aren’t allowed here, but you can snorkel and paddle freely. Be careful though as the rocks can be tricky and currents sometimes get strong.

Try Spear Throwing and Stone Bowling

Throughout the park, you can try out traditional Hawaiian games with real game pieces and instructions. Test your aim with ʻoʻo ihe (spear throwing), which helped build hunting and fighting skills in ancient Hawaii. Try ʻulu maika (stone bowling), where disk-shaped stones were rolled between stakes to show skill.

Tide Pools and Whale Watching Spots

The shoreline shows exactly why people picked this spot for their village, with great views and natural features. Though you can’t sunbathe here (no towels or beach chairs allowed), you’ll find cool tide pools to explore.

Take time to enjoy the beautiful lava coastline shaped by waves over hundreds of years. Visit between December and April and you might see humpback whales. Koai’e Cove has two small coral beaches that once served as a launch spot for canoes.

Best Sunrise and Sunset Photo Spots

Bring your camera for great shots of old stone structures against the blue ocean and palm trees against the sky. On clear days, you can even see Maui across the water. The path along the rocky, palm-lined shore gives you many great viewpoints.

Sacred white coral piles stand out nicely against dark lava rock (look but don’t touch these important cultural items). Morning or late afternoon visits give the best lighting, with golden hour making the ruins and coastline look extra beautiful.

More Historical Sites Within a Short Drive

After Lapakahi, take a short drive to see Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, an important ancient temple.

Head north to Pololu Valley Lookout for amazing views of the northeastern coastline. Check out Mahukona Beach Park on the site of an old sugar company property. Visit Kapa’a Beach Park, a small park not far from Hawi.

Discover less-visited Kaiholena Cove with its own historical sites, or take the Malama Trail to Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Park to see ancient Hawaiian rock carvings.

Visiting Lapakahi State Historical Park

Entry is free at Lapakahi State Historical Park which opens daily from 8 AM to 3:30 PM, with gates locking at 4 PM. Make sure to arrive before 3:30 PM or you won’t get in.

You’ll find the park on the Big Island’s northwestern coast, about 12.4 miles north of Kawaihae Harbor on Highway 270.