National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii facts for kids
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The island of Hawaiʻi, also known as the Big Island, is home to many special places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These places are important because they tell us about the island's history, culture, and nature. The National Register is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are worth saving because of their historical meaning.
On the Big Island, there are 93 such places. These include 10 historic areas, six National Historic Landmarks, and one National Historic Landmark District. Some of these amazing sites are found inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
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Exploring Historic Places on Hawaiʻi Island
Let's discover some of the cool historic spots on the Big Island! These places help us understand what life was like long ago and why Hawaiʻi is so unique.
Ancient Trails and Footprints
Some of the oldest and most fascinating sites are trails and footprints left by people from the past.
1790 Footprints
Imagine walking where people walked over 200 years ago! The 1790 Footprints are found in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These are real footprints left in hardened ash from a huge eruption of the Kilauea volcano. It's like a snapshot from the past!
Ainapo Trail
This is an ancient trail that leads up to the top of Mauna Loa, one of the world's largest volcanoes. It was used by Hawaiians for many years to reach the summit.
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
This trail is a long, historic pathway that runs along the coast. It was used by ancient Hawaiians for travel and trade. Today, you can walk parts of it and imagine the journeys people took centuries ago.
Important Cultural Sites
Many places on the list are ancient Hawaiian temples or important gathering spots.
Ahu A Umi Heiau
A heiau is an ancient Hawaiian temple. Ahu A Umi Heiau is a royal complex located on a high, remote plateau. It was a very important spiritual and political center.
Honokohau Settlement
This area is part of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. It has ancient fish ponds and the ruins of old Hawaiian villages. It shows how Hawaiians lived and used the land and sea.
Kamakahonu, Residence of King Kamehameha I
This was the home of Kamehameha I, the king who united all the Hawaiian islands. He lived here after bringing the islands together. It's a very important place in Hawaiian history.
Puʻuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
This place was once known as the "City of Refuge." If someone broke a sacred law or was in danger, they could come here for safety. It's a large, ancient religious site that offered protection.
Puʻukohola Heiau National Historic Site
This is another very important temple built by Kamehameha I in 1790. It played a big role in his efforts to unite the islands.
Kealakekua Bay Historical District
This bay was a major religious center when Europeans first visited Hawaiʻi. It's also famous as the place where Captain James Cook, a British explorer, landed and later died.
Lapakahi Complex
This is a reconstructed ancient fishing village and a State Historical Park. It shows what a traditional Hawaiian fishing community looked like and how they lived by the ocean.
Historic Buildings and Towns
Many buildings and even whole towns on the Big Island have been preserved because of their historical value.
==District Courthouse and Police Station (Hilo)
Built in 1932, this building in Hilo now houses the East Hawaii Cultural Center. It's a great example of old government buildings.
Greenwell Store
This store was built in 1870 in Kealakekua. Today, it's home to the Kona Historical Society Museum, where you can learn about the history of the Kona region.
Hulihee Palace
Located in Kailua-Kona, this beautiful palace was built by Governor Kuakini. It was a vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.
Imiola Church
This church in Waimea was built in 1855 and has a stunning interior made of solid koa wood. It's a beautiful example of early Hawaiian church architecture.
Mokuaikaua Church
Also in Kailua-Kona, this is the oldest Christian church in Hawaiʻi. It was built by early missionaries.
Old Volcano House No. 42
Found in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this building was constructed in 1877. It was one of the first hotels for visitors to the volcano. Now, it's the Volcano Art Center gallery.
==Palace Theater (Hilo)
This movie theater in Hilo was built in 1925. Today, it's an "arthouse" theater, showing special films and hosting events.
==St. Benedict's Catholic Church (Honaunau)
Known as the "Painted Church," this church is famous for its beautiful murals painted on the inside walls. These paintings helped teach Bible stories to people who couldn't read.
Star of the Sea Painted Church
Another "Painted Church," this small church was near villages that were destroyed by lava flows. Its unique paintings make it very special.
Uchida Coffee Farm
This restored Japanese coffee farm in Kealakekua shows what life was like for Japanese immigrants who grew Kona coffee. You can learn about how coffee was made long ago.
Waimea Elementary School
This building in Kamuela was the first schoolhouse for the Waimea community. It's a good example of early Hawaiian plantation style architecture.
Whitney Seismograph Vault No. 29
Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this was the original home of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This observatory was founded in 1912 to study volcanoes, especially Kilauea.
Natural Wonders and Archeological Sites
The Big Island also has natural features and ancient sites that are historically protected.
Kilauea Crater
This active volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a world heritage site. It's one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, and its eruptions have shaped the island.
Mauna Kea Adz Quarry
High up on Mauna Kea, this is the largest ancient quarry in the world where tools were made from basalt rock. Hawaiians used this stone to make adzes (a type of axe) and other tools.
South Point Complex
This is the southernmost point in the United States. It's an important archeological site with evidence of some of the earliest human settlements in Hawaiʻi.
Images for kids
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Footprints left in solidified ash from a Kilauea eruption.
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Ahu A Umi Heiau, a royal complex on a high remote plateau.
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Ainahou Ranch house, used to raise endangered Hawaiian geese.
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The ancient Ainapo Trail to the Mauna Loa summit.
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Part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.
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Anna Ranch in Waimea.
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Kalahikiola Church in the Bond District.
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Daifukuji Soto Zen Mission, a Buddhist Temple built 1920–1921.
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The District Courthouse and Police Station, now home of the East Hawaii Cultural Center.
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The Ferreira Building in Honokaʻa.
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Greenwell Store, now the Kona Historical Society Museum.
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The Thomas Guard House in Hilo.
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Hale Halawai O Holualoa, known as the "Living Stones Church".
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The S. Hata Building in Hilo, built by a Japanese American family business.
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The Walter Irving and Jean Henderson House.
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View towards the edge of Hilina Pali Road.
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The W.H. Hill House in Hilo.
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Hilo Masonic Lodge Hall, also known as the Kaikodo (Restaurant) Building.
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The James M. Hind House.
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Kamoa Point, part of the Holualoa 4 Archeological District.
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The Honokaa People's Theatre.
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Honokohau Settlement, inside Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.
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The Hotel Honokaa Club.
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The backside of Hulihee Palace.
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The interior of Imiola Church in Waimea.
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Kahaluu Bay Historic District.
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Kahikolu Church, built in 1852.
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Kalaoa Permanent House Site 10,205.
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Kaloko Fish Pond, part of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.
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Kamakahonu, the residence of King Kamehameha I.
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Kamehameha Hall in Hilo.
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Marker at Kamehameha III's Birthplace in Keauhou Bay.
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Overgrown ruins at Kamoa Point Complex.
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Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay Historical District.
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The Keauhou Holua Slide, an ancient "extreme sport" course.
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Sulfur dioxide emissions from the Halemaumau vent, Kilauea Crater.
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The Kohala District Courthouse.
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Kuamo'o Burials, site of an 1819 battle.
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Lapakahi Complex, a reconstructed ancient fishing village.
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The Levi and Netti Lyman House.
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The Rev. D.B. Lyman House, now a museum.
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Detail of a big tree along Mauna Loa Road.
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Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest Christian Church in Hawaii.
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Mookini Heiau, a State Monument.
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The Edward H. and Claire Moses House.
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The A. Nanbu Hotel-Holy's Bakery.
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Old Volcano House No. 42, now the Volcano Art Center gallery.
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The Palace Theater in Hilo.
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The James and Catherine Parker House.
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Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, the "City of Refuge".
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Pu'ukohola Heiau temple, built by Kamehameha I.
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Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
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Petroglyphs in the Puako Petroglyph Archeological District.
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Puna-Ka'u Historic District.
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Inside St. Benedict's Catholic Church, the "Painted Church".
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The W.H. Shipman House, now a "Bed and Breakfast" Hotel.
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Ka Lae, the South Point Complex.
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Star of the Sea Painted Church.
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The Herbert Austin Truslow House.
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The U.S. Post Office and Office Building in Hilo.
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The mill at Uchida Coffee Farm.
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The Volcano Block Building in Hilo.
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Haili Church, part of the Waiakea Mission Station.
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Waimea Elementary School, now the Isaacs Art Center.
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Whitney Seismograph Vault No. 29, original home of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
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Ruins of the 1840 Charles Wilkes camp site at Mauna Loa summit.
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The A.J. Williamson House.
