Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area

Keaiwa Heiau is a recreation area with trails through Norfolk pine and eucalyptus forests in the hills above Pearl Harbor. The grounds span hundreds of acres and offer views of the harbor and surrounding ridges from several vantage points.

The site dates from the 16th century when a local chief and his healer advisor founded it as a center for medical knowledge. Later the area was developed as a public recreation space and is now protected as a state park.

This site functioned as a healing center where traditional healers worked with local plants to treat illnesses and pass down knowledge to apprentices. The place remains connected to Hawaiian practices of caring for people through natural remedies and learning.

The area is open during daylight hours and offers trails through different forest types suitable for various fitness levels. Those wanting to stay overnight can use camping sites with permits allowing multiple nights on specific weekdays.

The park contains wreckage from a military aircraft that crashed here during the Second World War and was left where it fell. The remains can be found along one of the longer trails and remind visitors of the island's wartime history.

Location: Honolulu County

GPS coordinates: 21.40222,-157.89972

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:41