Keakealaniwahine, one of the first known Aliʻi Aimoku wahine ("Queens") of the entire island of Hawaiʻi, built a large complex of buildings here in the seventeenth century, with the area settled several hundred years before that.

This area (uphill or mauka of Aliʻi drive) was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 2005, as the Holualoa 4 Archeological District with site number 05000542.

[1] When he came to power he lived further north in Kamakahonu but continued to maintain a temple here called Hale O Kaili to the war god Kūkailimoku.

Although this Hōlualoa was for the practical purpose of building canoes, sliding down the lava rock evolved into a favorite sport of the upper class called heʻe hōlua.

Kamehameha constructed a large ramp purely for the sport a few miles further south known as the Keauhou Holua Slide, some of which is preserved.

A developer bought some of the land in 1956 with plans to build a hotel, but only a few small vacation homes were built due to local opposition.

[9] Another proposed road project through the area, Lako Street has been re-routed slightly to avoid some major sites (also on hold as of 2009).

An environmental impact statement was filed in 1995, and an additional 16 acres (65,000 m2) in the Hōlualoa 4 area on the East of Aliʻi Drive was donated in 1998.