:Kekaha Kai State Park
{{Short description|State park in Hawaii, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Kekaha Kai State Park
| photo = KuaBayHawaii.jpg
| photo_width = 220
| photo_alt = Kua Bay in Kekaha Kai State Park
| photo_caption = Kua Bay in Kekaha Kai State Park
| iucn_category =
| map = USA Hawaii
| map_alt = Location in the Kona District on the northwestern coast of the Big Island
| map_caption = Location within Hawaii
| map_width = 220
| location = Hawaii, U.S.
| nearest_city = Kailua-Kona
| coordinates = {{coord|19|47|32|N|156|1|31|W|region:US-HI|format=dms|display=inline}}
| coords_ref= {{Cite web
| url = http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/kekaha-kai-kona-coast-state-park/
| title = Hawaii State Parks
| publisher = State of Hawaii
| access-date = 2016-02-06
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160206062843/http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/kekaha-kai-kona-coast-state-park/
| archive-date = 2016-02-06}}
| area=
| established=
| governing_body = Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources
| url = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160206062843/http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/kekaha-kai-kona-coast-state-park/ Hawaii State Parks]
}}
Kekaha Kai State Park, formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, is a beach park located along the north Kona coast on the island of Hawai{{okina}}i. The main beach areas are Manini{{okina}}owali Bay (Kua Bay), Makalawena beach at Pu{{okina}}u Ali{{okina}}i Bay, and Mahai{{okina}}ula Bay. The park's name originates from the Hawaiian language words ke kaha kai which translate to "the shore line" in English.{{Hawaiian Dictionaries | kahakai |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }}
Park sections
The northern section of the park is on Manini{{okina}}owali Bay located at coordinates {{coord |19|48|37|N| 156|0|23|W| type:landmark_region:US-HI |display=inline |name=Kua Bay}}. This beach area is popularly called Kua Bay since it is easier to pronounce.{{Hawaiian Dictionaries |Kua Bay |dic=cl |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} A paved road {{convert|2.6|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of Kona International Airport leads to the beach.{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/planning/spa/north_kona/map1.html |title=North Kona: Map 1 |date=n.d. |publisher=Government of Hawaii |access-date=2016-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006012832/http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/planning/spa/north_kona/map1.html |archive-date=2011-10-06}}
The wetland area behind Makalawena beach[http://data.nodc.noaa.gov/coris/data/NOAA/nos/EnvironmentalSensitivityIndices/Hawaii/CDcontents/HI_PDFS/MAPS/HI23.PDF Environmental Sensitivity Index Map of Makalawena] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972.{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/index.htm |title=Makalawena Marsh National Natural Landmark Designation 1972 |publisher=National Park Service |date=2010-05-03 |access-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528160231/http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/Registry/USA_Map/States/Hawaii/NNL/MM/index.cfm |archive-date=2010-05-28}} The marsh is known as {{okina}}Ōpae{{okina}}ula Pond (Hawaiian for "red shrimp") and was the site of a small fishing village that was wiped out in the 1946 tsunami.John R. K. Clark, Beaches of the Big Island, University of Hawaii Press, 1985, {{ISBN|978-0-8248-0976-8}}, p.118 The {{convert|12|acre|ha|abbr=on}} of wetland provide one of the last remaining nesting grounds of the āe{{okina}}o (Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), the {{okina}}alae ke{{okina}}oke{{okina}}o (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai),{{cite web|url=http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/NAAT%20final%20CWCS/Chapters/Terrestrial%20Fact%20Sheets/Waterbirds/hawaiian%20coot%20NAAT%20final2%20!.pdf |title=ʻAlae keʻokeʻo or Hawaiian Coot |work=Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy |publisher=State of Hawaiʻi |date=2005-10-01 |access-date=2016-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103132420/http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/NAAT%20final%20CWCS/Chapters/Terrestrial%20Fact%20Sheets/Waterbirds/hawaiian%20coot%20NAAT%20final2%20%21.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-03 |url-status=dead }} and the only known breeding area for the {{okina}}auku{{okina}}u (black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli) in Hawaii. The pond is located at coordinates {{coord |19|47|32|N| 156|1|31|W| type:landmark_region:US-HI |display=inline |name=ʻŌpaeʻula Pond}} in the privately owned area between the two sections of the state park.
File:A151, Hawaii, USA, Kekaha Kai State Park, thru the window, 2007.JPG
Mahai{{okina}}ula Bay is accessed by an unpaved lava road which heads west off the main highway a short distance north of the airport. The Mahai{{okina}}ula section is located at coordinates {{coord |19|46|56|N| 156|2|13|W| type:landmark_region:US-HI |display=inline |name=Mahaiʻula Bay}} and has a sandy beach with a picnic area.
A {{convert|4.5|mi|km|abbr=on|adj=on}} section of the historic Ala Kahakai coastal trail connects Mahai{{okina}}ula and Kua Bay. A hike up Pu{{okina}}u Ku{{okina}}ili offers a wide view of the coastline from the summit of the {{convert|342|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=mid|-high}} cinder cone.
External links
- [http://www.hawaii-guide.com/big_island_of_hawaii/beaches/kona_coast_kekaha_kai_state_park Hawaii-Guide.com]
- [http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g29217-d582585-Reviews-Kekaha_Kai_State_Park-Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html TripAdvisor.com]
- [https://hawaiioutside.com/2015/02/19/living-the-wild-life-at-kekaha-kai-state-park-on-the-big-island/ Hawaii-Outside.com]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Protected areas of Hawaii}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Beaches of Hawaii (island)
Category:State parks of Hawaii
Category:Protected areas of Hawaii (island)