This Hawaiian Beach Park Preserves an Ancient Fishing Village You Can Walk Around In

Lapakahi State Historical Park

The Big Island’s north coast is brutal. No shade, no water, just black rock baking in the sun.

But here sits Lapakahi, where Hawaiian fishermen once raised families and caught dinner from canoes they built by hand. Here’s why you should add this quiet park to your Hawaii trip.

What the village name means

Lapakahi are the remains of an ancient, traditional Hawaiian fishing village. The name lapa kahi means “single ridge” in the Hawaiian Language. It refers to the ahupuaʻa, a land division in the area that ran from the sea up to Kohala Mountain.

A Village Founded Six Centuries Ago

Carbon dating places Lapakahi’s birth between 1300-1350 CE, putting it among the best-preserved ancient villages on Hawaii Island. The first settlers came from Polynesia, building Koai’e fishing village along this sheltered cove.

The natural layout proved perfect for a settlement. Hills and gulches shielded the village from strong Kohala winds that blew across the island.

Excavations That Revealed Village History

Our understanding of Lapakahi began with formal digs in 1968 led by Richard Pearson. This groundbreaking work continued under H.D. Tuggle and J.B. Griffin in 1973.

Their studies showed that Lapakahi started as a seasonal fishing camp before growing into a permanent village.

The Ahupuaʻa System

The name “Lapakahi” means “single ridge” in Hawaiian, describing the land shape that defined the community.

Hawaiian society worked through the ahupuaʻa system, creating self-supporting areas stretching from mountain tops to ocean edges.

This clever system linked coastal fishermen with upland farmers through set trade routes. Shore dwellers sent pa’akai (sea salt) upland, while mountain folks brought olonā plants to the coast for making fishing nets and lines.

Village size typically held 70-100 residents but grew to over 200 during special gatherings and ceremonies.

Unlike many ancient places, Lapakahi stayed lived-in until the early twentieth century, when the last families left.

Stone Walls That Stood For Centuries

The stacked lava rock walls you’ll see at the village are the original ones they built centuries ago. These walls were constructed without cement or mortar, yet have survived centuries of storms, earthquakes, and ocean conditions.

Thatch or grass roofs gave shelter above, held up by wooden poles stuck into the rock work.

Ancient Salt Pans

Near Koai’e Cove, you’ll see bowl-shaped holes carved directly into black lava stone. They dried ocean water in the sun to collect salt crystals. This was their only method since the volcanic island has no natural salt deposits.

Hawaiian Games Played On Stone Courts

Midway through the trail, you’ll find areas where ancient Hawaiians enjoyed traditional games. Konane, similar to checkers, used a carved stone board called papamu with grid patterns from 8×8 to 17×17 holes.

Players competed using black and white stones on these papamu boards. ‘Ulu maika challenged people to roll stone discs between two stakes in the ground, much like modern bowling.

‘O’o ihe, or spear throwing, built hunting and fighting skills by tossing wooden spears at targets. You can try simpler versions of these games using gear provided at the site.

A Center For Traditional Hawaiian Medicine

Lapakahi was famous across ancient Hawaii for its lā’au lapa’au (Hawaiian herbal medicine) experts. The village grew important healing plants including ‘olena (turmeric), noni, and kukui, used in traditional cures.

People traveled from other islands specifically to learn plant medicine from Lapakahi’s skilled healers. These meetings usually happened during Makahiki season (October-February), a time of celebration and learning.

The healing tradition lived on into modern times. Famous Hawaiian healer Papa Henry Auwae learned from kahuna lā’au lapa’au (medicine experts) at Lapakahi in the early 1900s, saving ancient medical knowledge for future generations.

The Marine Life Conservation District

The waters off Lapakahi gained protection on December 29, 1979, when the state created a Marine Life Conservation District.

This action formed two safeguarded zones, including Koai’e Cove.

Yellow tang, butterflyfish, and delicate cauliflower coral thrive in these protected waters. The conservation area extends 500 feet from shore, preserving the sea life connected to this historic site.

Hawaiian beliefs hold that these waters have healing powers.

The Reconstructed Thatched Hale

Visitors can see ancient Hawaiian building through a rebuilt thatched hale (house) measuring 20 feet by 15 feet with a 10-foot high middle ridge. The structure shows traditional building methods.

Builders used pili grass for roofing and native hau and ‘ohi’a wood for the supporting frame. A square yard of low stacked rock walls surrounds the structure, typical of traditional Hawaiian home design.

Visiting Lapakahi State Historical Park

Lapakahi State Historical Park welcomes visitors daily from 8:00am to 3:30pm, with gates locked at 4:00pm. Entry to this cultural treasure remains free. The 1.1-mile loop trail features 19 numbered sites with signs explaining their historical importance.

Located on Akoni Pule Highway (Route 270), the park sits 12.4 miles north of Kawaihae.

Restrooms are available, but no drinking water, so visitors should bring their own.

Read More from This Brand:

• Six Pacific Island Nations Share Their Ancient Heritage at This Living Museum in Hawaii
• Ancient Hawaiian Law Breakers Swam Through Shark-Infested Waters to Reach This Sacred Sanctuary
• 12 Jaw-Dropping Hawaiian Landscapes That’ll Make You Want to Book a Flight Right Now