2013 Map of Kauluoa Point

About this map

Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park anchors the northern coastline of this survey, marking a site of immense cultural significance on the Island of Hawai'i. The landscape is dominated by the volcanic legacy of the mid-20th century, specifically the massive Honokua Lava Flow of 1950 and the Ka'apuna Lava Flow of 1950, which scarred the terrain as they moved toward the Pacific Ocean. These flows created a stark, dramatic shelf where the island meets the sea at points like Kauluoa Point and Pali Kaholo. Small coastal settlements and geographical markers such as Kāapuna and Opihihali provide evidence of local life along the narrow corridor between the mountains and the water. The map traces the rugged interface of land and sea, from the sands of Kalāhiki Beach to the inlets of Lapawai Bay and Kapilo Bay.