"90 percent of the vegetation on the park’s 80 acres. Pu‘ukoholā Heiau is in the background. (NPS photo)"
Due to the recent brushfire in Kawaihae and the need to continue to assess damages to the cultural sites, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site will remain closed and will cancel the Hookuikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16.
"The 43rd annual Ho‘oku‘ikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival will not be rescheduled this year. Instead, the National Park Service said in a media release:
… the public is encouraged to save the date for next year’s festival, scheduled for Aug. 13 & 14, 2016. Next year also marks the 225th anniversary of the completion of the heiau in 1791, and the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service.
'We regret the inconvenience of having to close temporarily and for having to cancel the festival that so many enjoy,' said Superintendent Kawaiaea. 'As always, our priority is the safety of park staff, our visitors, and the practitioners,' he said."