Honaunau Bay
UHH Home > Student Affairs > Housing > Residents' Life
Located
near the base of Highway 160 off of Highway 11 near the 104 mile marker
south of Kona, Honaunau Bay lies next to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National
Historical Park (Formerly called the City of Refuge). A protected bay
from most of the west Kona weather, the location hosts a boat ramp,
a very limited beach area, and limited parking. More know for its sun
bathing, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving activities, the location
sometimes hosts canoe competitions.
Although
limited, there are a few trees offering shade along the road next to
the somewhat flat lava rock area that extends out to the ocean. If participants
sit in the lava rock area, care must be exercised to avoid too much
sun as well as becoming dehydrated. Repeated application of sunscreen
are necessary even if the product claims to be waterproof.
Marine life is plentiful in this area. The most common encounters
include pods of dolphins
and turtles. For your safety and the protection of specific marine life,
Marine Conservation Laws prohibit chasing, feeding, or harassing turtles,
whales, dolphins, and seals. Any participant that violates these laws
are subject to fines and other legal alternatives by both state and
federal government agencies.
Inherent Risks
It is the responsibility of each participant to evaluate the various
risks that they may be exposed to if they decide to participate in this
program. Some of the inherent risks include, but are not limited to,
the following:
- Exposure to the sun and strong winds
- Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are physically strenuous and participants will be exerting themselves during this program
- Potential injuries could also include, but not be limited to, heart attack, panic, hyperventilation, shallow water blackout, and/or drowning
- Decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric/air expansion injury that require treatment in a recompression chamber the nearest of which is located in Honolulu
- Van or other vehicles that may be used to transport participants to and from the proposed site
- Ocean marine traffic that operates in these waters include, but is not limited to, sail and powered water vessels of all sizes, kayaks and canoes
- Changing weather and water conditions
- Dehydration
- There is "No Life Guard on Duty "
- Exposure/contact with marine life including to but not limited to Man-O-War, urchins, and sharks
- Exposure to cold.(water temp. appx.75 °F)
- Water that is too deep for someone to stand
- Strong tides, waves and off-shore currents
- Ocassional high surf
- Encounters with fishing lines, hooks and other fishing equipment and/or gear
- Due to remote location, sites may require considerable time delays before any assistance is possible
- Sharp corals
Students are required to remain with the group during this program and not go on un-authorized selected activities or excursions without the group. If transportation is involved, participants must wear seat belts if available and are expected to return with the group.