Waikoloa Beach is an area located on the South Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii and is located in the census-designated place of Puako. It can be confused for Waikoloa Village, a CDP in the same "ahupuaʻa" and is also known as "Waikoloa".[1]
The area is home to many notable cultural and geologic features of the ancient Hawaiian culture including aquaculture fishponds, anchialine ponds and petroglyphs.
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Ala Kahakai or “trail by the sea” is the name for the ancient pathway that runs along the coastline in the Waikoloa area that linked important entities in the Hawaiian culture including communities, temples, fishing areas, etc. The Wikoloa Ala Kahakai, estimated to be 175 miles (282 km) long, is commonly called “King’s Trail".
Anaehoʻomalu, also known as "A Bay" is best known for its sunsets, snorkeling and its historical significance in Hawaiian culture. Waikoloa Beach is in Anaehoʻomalu Bay at the southernmost point of the Waikoloa area.
The anchialine ponds of Waikoloa were part of Hawaiian culture and were preserved in 1985 as the Waikoloa Anchialine Pond Preservation Area maintained by the University of Hawaii. The brackish water lava pools located just at the coastline are fed by both freshwater springs from rain water and sea water making the ponds a unique microclimate suitable for a various small fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and tiny red shrimp.
The Kuʻualiʻi and Kahapapa Fishponds are located just behind the Waikoloa Beach in Anaehoʻomalu bay. Historically, it is understood that Anaeho’omalu was a center of thriving aquaculture. The two ponds were part of complex of fish farms, carefully tended by ancient Hawaiian people.
The Hilton Waikoloa Village is built on 62 acres (250,000 m2) and has 1240 rooms and suites with tropical gardens, waterfalls, lagoons and waterways. It was originally developed in 1988 as the Hyatt Regency Waikoloa, however was sold to Hilton in 2002. The Hilton Waikoloa Village recently unveiled the new Dolphin Quest Village. The popular game show Wheel of Fortune has taped at the resort in the past, most recently in 2008.
There are many historically significant petroglyphs or stone carvings in the Waikoloa. They are potentially the closest thing to a written language that Hawaiians used. The petroglyphs are thought to be astronomical symbols.