Hawaii National Parks

Officially, there are two Hawaii National Parks, three Hawaii National Historic Parks, one Hawaii National Historic Trail, one Hawaii National Historic Site, and one Memorial.

When you think of national parks in Hawaii, the first one that comes to mind is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the Big Island, as this is definitely the most popular national park in Hawaii. It's the national park that most people visit on their Hawaii vacation.

But, there is more site-seeing than just the volcanoes... here's a list of the eight sites that I mentioned above...

• Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
  Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
  Established in 2000 for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources, the Ala Kahakai NHT is a 175-mile trail corridor full of cultural and historical significance...
• Haleakala National Park
  Kula, Maui
  This Hawaii National Park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui...
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  Hilo, Island of Hawaii
  Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution - processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct human culture...
• Kalaupapa National Historical Park
  Kalaupapa, Molokai
  Two tragedies occurred on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north shore of the island of Moloka`i; the first was the removal of indigenous people in 1865 and 1895, the second was the forced isolation of sick people to this remote place from 1866 until 1969...
• Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
  Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii
  Established in 1978 for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture, Kaloko-Honokohau NHP is an 1160 acre park full of incredible cultural and historical significance...
• Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
  Honaunau, Island of Hawaii
  Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu or one of the ancient laws against the gods could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or "pu`uhonua"...
• Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
  Kawaihae, Island of Hawaii
  The founding of the Hawaiian kingdom can be directly associated with one structure in the Hawaiian Islands: Pu'ukohola Heiau. The temple was constructed to incur the favor of the war god Kuka'ilimoku...
• U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
  Honolulu, Oahu
  Oil droplets bubble to the surface of Pearl Harbor above the USS Arizona, creating a vivid link to the past. Today, visitors come from around the world to see the USS Arizona Memorial, which spans the mid-portion of the sunken battleship...

* Information courtesy of the National Park Service *

Out of all the Hawaii National Parks, if you only have time to visit one or two on your Hawaii vacation, we highly recommend visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.