#14 - Old Heiau Site

This site reminds us to tread carefully when exploring around the island.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Puʻuhonua

Significance:

Ancient Heiau (temple)

Designation:

National Register of Historic Places

Amenities

3 listed

Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Gather in silence for but a moment and you may hear an ancestral murmur from the distant past.

This ancient heiau, at one time measuring roughly 175 ft by 300 ft, was built around the 12 – 1300’s. Archeological work revealed that this site may have been built in the characteristic style called luakini, which feature enclosed walls and an inner plaza, unlike the flat rectangular shape of the māpele style. Due to its close proximity to the shoreline, the ocean’s recurring barrage has greatly reduced this heiau into a ruined state.

Remembered by the name ʻĀleʻaleʻa-nui, a tradition related in the 1920’s by a woman of Hōnaunau recalls that an area within this “old heiau” may have at one time been used to detain kauwā, a term referring to kapu breakers and prisoners of war.

Temple sites such as these are numerous across the islands, yet are often left unmarked and with minimal interpretation available. Please be mindful of the memories contained within these places, even those seemingly reduced to ruins. It is a best practice when visiting and exploring our islands to always avoid walking over or climbing on walls and stone structures, and to refrain from taking or moving stones from along beaches, trails, and cultural sites.