June 24-26, 2011- Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Celebrates 50th Anniversary

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Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park will present a year of celebration to mark its 50th anniversary as a unit of the National Park Service. The celebration begins on June 24, 2011 with a 3 day cultural festival with additional park events extending to December 2011.

The Cultural Festival takes visitors back to old Hawai‘i in the 1800’s. Practitioners in traditional dress will provide visitors with a uniquely Hawaiian experience, honoring the culture and traditions of the Hawaiian people and cultural experts, and providing local residents and the community a time and place to gather, learn and share. There will be a ho‘okupu (offering) opening and closing ceremony, hula performances, canoe rides, food tasting, weaving, hukilau (traditional fishing), musical implements, lei making, medicinal plants, archaeological hikes and much more.

When: June 24, 25, 26, 2011 – 9 am to 3 pm, Fee free days

Where: Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park – south on Highway 11 to mile marker 104,

turn right on to Hwy. 160, Ke Ala o Keawe Road, for three miles. Parking is limited.

Sponsors: Hawai‘i Natural History Association, Nā Hoa Aloha o ka Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau,

County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority

Contact information: , x1212

Learning from the Kupuna and guiding us into a new begining