There's A Hike In Hawaii That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Temple
By Megan Shute|Published June 19, 2018
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
The Hawaiian Islands are steeped in history, from the first Europeans visiting the islands in 1778 and the establishment of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795 to Hawaii’s admittance to the United States of America in 1959. As such, the Aloha State is home to rich historical sites and cultural monuments that were instrumental in the islands’ history. In fact, it is said that the Kingdom of Hawaii can be traced back to a single structure: Pu’ukohola Heiau, and you can hike to the now-abandoned structure!
Welcome to the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, a little-known slice of Hawaiian history nestled along Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast. Here, you will find a trail leading to the remnants of the last major ancient Hawaiian temple, as well as other historic sites.
The interpretive trail begins at the visitors center operated by the National Park Service and leads hikers on a short 20-30 minute walk to Pu’ukohola. While entry to the heiau is strictly forbidden, guests will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a king and take a step back in time.
The year was 1790, and Kamehameha I was fighting for control of the Hawaiian Islands. Built for Kamehameha I in an attempt to gain the favor of war god Kūkaʻilimoku, the temple was constructed together with chiefs, commoners, men, women, and children in less than a year by hand with no mortar.
Ancient Hawaiian temples, or heiaus, were built for many reasons, but there was only one form of heiau, however, that was dedicated via human sacrifice; the luakini heiau was built to achieve success in war. Pu’ukohola was one such luakini heiau.
"As British sailor, John Young looked on, the temple was built and dedicated, a chief rival was sacrificed, and the war god Ku was pleased," according to the National Park Service. Using Western military strategy and weapons to wage several subsequent battles and extend his control across the Hawaiian Islands, the monarchy established by Kamehameha the Great lasted 83 years… and it all began with this one temple.
Translating to "Temple on the Hill of the Whale" in Hawaiian, it is thought that Pu’ukohola was built on the site of an older temple that dates to 1580.
Today, all that remains are the now-abandoned ruins of this iconic temple. At first glance, this appears to be little more than a rock wall piled atop a barren hill, but it is, in fact, one of Hawaii's best-preserved temples.
Also found at this historic park are the remains of the Mailekini Heiau, an older Hawaiian temple with an unclear history and John Young's old homestead.
Whether you enjoy Hawaiian history or just exploring unknown locations, you'll love a visit to Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site.
Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is located at 62-3601 Kawaihae Rd., Waimea, HI 96743, and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. Have you been to this incredible historic site? Share your experience in the comments below.
Click here to read more about the underwater temple in Pelekane Bay dedicated to shark gods and rumored to be a site of human sacrifice.
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