Categorized | News, Tsunami

Update on West Hawaii National Parks tsunami damage


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MEDIA RELEASE

Kaloko Honokohau and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Parks continue to assess tsunami related damage.

Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park staff continue to assess damage to park resources, trails, and coastal areas. The tsunami came ashore at Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Parks on the morning of March 11, 2011, entered into the near coastal regions of the parks, over topping walls and surged inland hundreds of feet. National Park Service crews will continue to assess coastal areas of both National Parks for the coming days and weeks.

At Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park the unimproved road to Kaloko Fishpond has been reopened allowing visitor access to the picnic and parking area at the fishpond. A short section of the coastal trail north of ‘Aimakapa fishpond remains closed due to damage and debris covering the trail. The Hale Ho`okipa visitor contact station along Queen Ka`ahumanu Hwy is open 8:30am – 4:00pm daily to provide visitors information about the park and safe access paths to the coastal regions.

Much of Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park will remain closed as resource crews assess damage to the park and begin clearing debris. Currently, visitors are able to access limited areas of the park including: the visitor center, paved parking area, the amphitheater and adjacent grounds and the canoe halau from 9:30am – 4:00pm. The royal grounds, pu`uhonua, picnic area, coastal and 1871 trails all remain closed to entry. Park staff continue to assess the cultural layer uncovered by the effects of the tsunami, which removed beach sand in the royal grounds, pu`uhonua and picnic areas, and damaged the park’s trail systems. At Pu`uhonua o Honaunau, the tsunami surges entered the royal grounds and fish ponds throughout the day on March 11, scattering marine debris and coastal vegetation throughout the park grounds.

Please assist national park staff by honoring these park closures.

Further information on Park closures will follow as they become available. For further information about the parks please call Pu`uhonua o Honaunau NHP (808) 328-2326 ext 0 and listen for closure updates, or Kaloko Honokohau (808) 326-9057 during operating hours.

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