E - Kēōkea Hōlua

The Kēōkea Hōlua is the longest of the three hōlua found in the park.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Significance:

Hōlua

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

The second of the two hōlua that you can view from the 1871 Trail, the Kēōka Hōlua rises up the slope on the mauka (mountain) side of the trail. This paved stone ramp was used by the aliʻi (chiefs) in the area to compete in the sport of heʻe hōlua or sledding downhill on a narrow sled, and is over 1400 feet in length.

Ready for another archeology puzzle? Notice how the stonework near the trail is missing and that fewer stones remain the closer to the trail you get. Take a look at the other side of the trail too, can you see evidence that the ramp continued this side? What explanation can you think of for these missing stones?

The answer is… The stones were removed to facilitate trail construction in this section. The historic trail intersects this hōlua and shows that it was constructed after the hōlua was in use. The original ancient trail would have run closer to the shoreline, avoiding this area that was reserved for the aliʻi (chiefs). Stones that were removed from the holua and incorporated into the construction of the trail.

This hōlua is found in the ahupuaʻa (land division) of Kēōka, one of the three ahupuaʻa that the 1871 trail traverses.