About Kona

Kona Outdoor Circle Scholarships

The Kona Outdoor Circle offers two scholarships in support of education. These are the Julie M. Ellison Master Gardener Scholarship in the amount of $225, offered three times a year, and the KOC Annual Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens

Adjacent to the Education Center are the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens. Established in 1986, the gardens exhibit trees and plants commonly grown in Hawai`i, arranged in a series of terraces according to their native regions in a 1.5 acre area.

Kealakowa‘a Heiau

Under preservation next to the Kona Outdoor Circle Educational Center lies the historic Kealakowa‘a (“the way for dragging canoes”) heiau. This ritual site, built in the 1600’s in the time of King Umi, was used for blessing canoes and can be seen from both the highway and the Center’s parking lot. The 1.5 acre area contains a group of platforms including a heiau for the high priest to officiate, an astrological temple to study omens and navigational stars, the foundation of the high priest’s house, and the foundation of a house in which were held council meetings of the seers and chiefs. The sacred site is positioned along an ancient trail that led from the upland forests of acacia koa trees on Mt. Hualalai down to the Pacific Ocean at Holualoa Bay. After a propitious tree was selected and felled in the forest, the log was hewn into the shape of a canoe and then dragged down to the heiau for blessing ceremonies. From there it was dragged on down to the water for completion and launching.

The Polynesians were master canoe builders and supreme navigators, and thus they were able to survive the lengthy voyages required for their early migrations. The canoe was a focal point of their life and customs. The canoe gave them access to the ocean near their shores and the world beyond. The canoe was an “ancestral space ship” and their choices of clothing, food sources, plants and animals, rituals and astronomy were all influenced by the presence of the canoe in their culture. More information about the early Hawaiians is available in the Historic Kealakowa‘a Heiau Preservation Council office located in the Kona Outdoor Circle Educational Center building.

Future projects include a canoe shed on the site where canoe-making demonstrations can be staged for school children and other visitors. These projects will further KOC’s vision to make the heiau a community resource and to retain the quality of the area around the heiau, consistent with its history as a once very lively and vital site.

Historic Kealakowa‘a Heiau Preservation Council

Under the guidance of curator Anna Hickcox, the Kealakowa‘a Heiau Council is moving forward with the construction of several new structures to enhance the heiau. These include a hale maiu, or viewing platform, where the community members can sit and study the heiau platforms, or merely sit and enjoy the solitude the area provides. A hale wa’a (canoe shed) will also be constructed on the site in the southeastern corner of the heiau. An ahu, or altar, has been constructed by Geno Bergmann, a stonemason, who has donated countless hours to the revitalization of the site.

The council is an advisory board to the KOC Foundation Board and complements the Board in its beautification of the gardens, preservation of the heiau and the overall care of the community. The members include Greg Garriss, Ben Heloca, Mindy Finnegan, Tom Hickcox, Kala Willis and Robby Mist. The representatives from the Foundation Board are Anna Hickcox and Ross Wilson. These people will oversee the construction of the new structures, plantings around the heiau and maintenance for the future. Educational programs will also be developed to further community understanding of heiau as well as the importance of the canoe to the people.

If you would like to know more about Kealakowa‘a Heiau or the Hawaiian culture, please call 329-7286 for an appointment. Our curator would enjoy talking to you about Hawaii and its culture, and take you on a tour of the heiau between 9a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. E komo mai.

Kona Outdoor Circle Memorial Library

Housed in the KOC Educational Center, the Memorial Library is acclaimed as the most extensive collection of botanical and horticultural material on the island of Hawai`i. Besides books, pamphlets, magazines, videos and colored slides, most of which can be checked out, a large clipping file provides up-to-date information on just about any subject having to do with growing things in Hawai`i. The self-service library is open to the public from 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday. A librarian is on duty on Wednesday mornings. A copy machine is available. Donations to the library are welcomed, and books donated in memory of loved ones are identified by a memorial notation at the front of each book.

Visitor Information

Services housed in the Educational Center building are open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The gardens are open for visiting during daylight hours. Groups of ten or more may request a free docent tour by advance reservation through the office. The heiau site is not open to visitors at this time but can be viewed from the Educational Center.

Office Hours

The KOC office is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Kona Outdoor Circle
76-6280 Kuakini Highway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 331-2426
Fax: (808) 334-9646
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)