Heiau of Hawaii

In ancient Hawaiian culture, heiaus, or temples, are sacred grounds in which only the most elite people could wander. These places of worship were significant in the native religious practices that were carried out at the time. Far away from most Big Island MLS, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is located on the northwestern coast of Hawaii and was constructed when Kamehameha the Great took control of the northern and western portions of the island in 1782. Kamehameha looked to unify the islands and after returning from a trip to Maui, found his lands on the Big Island to be under siege by his cousin who controlled the eastern side of the island. Upon the suggestion of a priest, the luakini heiau, a sacrificial temple, was built in order to sway the gods and gain the favor of the Hawaiian war god, Kukailimoku. Translated as “Temple on the Hill of the Whale,” Puukohola Heiau was constructed entirely by hand with no mortar in less than a year using red stones that were transported by human chain over a distance of fourteen miles. Today the park hosts a visitor center that is operated by the National Park service. While public entry into the heiau isn’t allowed, an informative trail around the site is open to guests.