Ahu A Umi Heiau
Encyclopedia
Ahu A Umi Heiau means "shrine at the temple of Umi" in the Hawaiian Language
.
It is also spelled "ahu-a-Umi", or known as Ahua A Umi Heiau, which would mean "mound of Umi".
It was built for 'Umi-a-Liloa
, often called Umi, who ruled the island of Hawaii
early in the 16th century. He moved the seat of government here from the Waipio Valley
.
The seat of power generally remained in the Kona District
until the plantation days hundreds of years later.
Ahu A Umi Heiau was also the place where the great chief Keawe Nui a Umi
(the son of
Umi) hid to escape death from a strong alii, Kalepuni, who attempted to
take over Keawe Nui a Umi’s rule.
The site was an enclosure surrounded by a number of stone cairns, up to four meters high and seven meters in diameter.
It is unusual to be built so far inland, on the high and dry plateau between Mauna Loa
and Hualālai
.
In the 19th century the site was built into a corral, but parts remain intact.
The Judd Trail was begun in 1849 to create a
direct route between Kailua and Hilo near the site, but trail completion was abandoned
after the Mauna Loa eruption of 1859 crossed the route.
Otherwise the area, and elevation of over 5000 feet (1,524 m), is not easily accessed today.
A number of trails with traditional names mentioning King Umi's probably existed in that time. Some of these have been proposed to be restored into a Mauna Loa trail system.
The site is on the state register of historic places as site number 10-29-3810.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on August 13, 1974 as site number 74000343.
It is located in the upper elevations of the ahupuaa (traditional land division) called Keauhou 2.
Modern research proposes that the complex includes an atronomical direction register.
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
It is also spelled "ahu-a-Umi", or known as Ahua A Umi Heiau, which would mean "mound of Umi".
It was built for 'Umi-a-Liloa
'Umi-a-Liloa
Umi-a-Liloa ruled as the 14th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii island from 1510 to 1525.-Royal Birth:Umi-a-Liloa, commonly known as Umi, was younger son of Liloa, 12th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii. Umi's mother Akahiakuleana was of much lower rank and distantly related to Liloa...
, often called Umi, who ruled the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
early in the 16th century. He moved the seat of government here from the Waipio Valley
Waipio valley
Waipio Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaii. "Waipio" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.It was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian alii up until the time of King Umi...
.
The seat of power generally remained in the Kona District
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
until the plantation days hundreds of years later.
Ahu A Umi Heiau was also the place where the great chief Keawe Nui a Umi
Keawenuiaumi
Keawe-nui-a-'Umi was the 16th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii from 1545 to 1575. He was the sovereign king or chief of the island of Hawaii. His principal residence seems to have been at Hilo...
(the son of
Umi) hid to escape death from a strong alii, Kalepuni, who attempted to
take over Keawe Nui a Umi’s rule.
The site was an enclosure surrounded by a number of stone cairns, up to four meters high and seven meters in diameter.
It is unusual to be built so far inland, on the high and dry plateau between Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
and Hualālai
Hualalai
Hualālai is a dormant shield volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the third-youngest and the third most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, following Kīlauea and the much larger Mauna Loa, and also the westernmost. Its peak is above sea...
.
In the 19th century the site was built into a corral, but parts remain intact.
The Judd Trail was begun in 1849 to create a
direct route between Kailua and Hilo near the site, but trail completion was abandoned
after the Mauna Loa eruption of 1859 crossed the route.
Otherwise the area, and elevation of over 5000 feet (1,524 m), is not easily accessed today.
A number of trails with traditional names mentioning King Umi's probably existed in that time. Some of these have been proposed to be restored into a Mauna Loa trail system.
The site is on the state register of historic places as site number 10-29-3810.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 13, 1974 as site number 74000343.
It is located in the upper elevations of the ahupuaa (traditional land division) called Keauhou 2.
Modern research proposes that the complex includes an atronomical direction register.