Hundreds of people immersed themselves this weekend in Hawaii’s culture, from going on canoe rides in Honaunau Bay to trying their hands at lauhala weaving.
Hundreds of people immersed themselves this weekend in Hawaii’s culture, from going on canoe rides in Honaunau Bay to trying their hands at lauhala weaving.
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park’s annual Cultural Festival celebrates the 51th anniversary of the park becoming a unit of the National Park Service.
Park visitors were transported back to the old Hawaii as it was up to the 1800s. Practitioners in traditional dress provided them with a unique experience, honoring the culture and traditions of the Hawaiian people. They joined in games, learned crafts, sampled Hawaiian food and watched traditional hula. They also learned about this “place of refuge,” which once functioned as the royal home of chiefs, as well as a safe haven during times of war and for lawbreakers hoping for a second chance.
For more information about the park, visit nps.gov/puho.