Kukaniloko Birth Site
Encyclopedia
Kūkaniloko Birth Site, also known as the Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument, near the intersection of Kamehameha Highway
and Whitmore Avenue just north of Wahiawā, Hawaii, is one of the most important ancient cultural sites on the island of Oahu
. It was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973 and its boundaries were increased in 1995, after 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land including it became a State park
in 1992.
Kūkaniloko lies in the Wahiawā Plateau
between Oahu's two mountain ranges: the Waianae
s to leeward, and the Koolaus to windward. It also lies at the intersection of two major paths of overland travel: the Waialua Trail between the North Shore
and 'Ewa Beach
, and the Kolekole Trail through the Waianae Range.
As the geographic piko (navel
) of Oahu, Kūkaniloko was symbolically the most powerful birth site for the island's high chiefs, among whom Kakuhihewa
and Kualii
were perhaps most famous. The Hoolonopahu Heiau associated with the site was later destroyed, as were many others in the area, to make room for sugarcane
and pineapple
fields in the rich soils where sweet potato
and yam
once grew in abundance. Chiefly families lived along the slopes of the Waianaes overlooking the plateau and along the shores of Waialua to the north, and many key battles between rivals for control of Oahu were also fought on the central plains surrounding Kūkaniloko.
The wide view of the skies from Kūkaniloko might also have made it a sort of Hawaiian Stonehenge
. In April 2000, a team from the University of Hawaii
Institute for Astronomy recorded designs and shapes on the stones that could have been used to track the movements of celestial objects for calendrical
purposes.
Kamehameha Highway
Kamehameha Highway is one of the main highways serving suburban and rural O‘ahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Starting from Nimitz Highway near Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, it serves the island's older western suburbs, turning north across the O‘ahu Central Valley to the...
and Whitmore Avenue just north of Wahiawā, Hawaii, is one of the most important ancient cultural sites on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. It was first listed on 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...
in 1973 and its boundaries were increased in 1995, after 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land including it became a State park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in 1992.
Kūkaniloko lies in the Wahiawā Plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
between Oahu's two mountain ranges: the Waianae
Waianae Range
Waianae Range is the eroded remains of an ancient shield volcano that comprises the western half of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu...
s to leeward, and the Koolaus to windward. It also lies at the intersection of two major paths of overland travel: the Waialua Trail between the North Shore
North Shore (Oahu)
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oahu between Kaena Point and Kahuku Point...
and 'Ewa Beach
'Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Ewa Beach or simply Ewa is a census-designated place located in Ewa District and the City & County of Honolulu along the leeward coast of Oahu in Hawaii. As of the 2010 Census, the CDP had a total population of 14,955....
, and the Kolekole Trail through the Waianae Range.
As the geographic piko (navel
Navel
The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...
) of Oahu, Kūkaniloko was symbolically the most powerful birth site for the island's high chiefs, among whom Kakuhihewa
Kakuhihewa
Kakuhihewa was the 15th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as King or chief of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. He was not only one of the great kings of Oahu, but celebrated throughout the eight islands for all the princely qualities of a highborn chief. The legends of him are somewhat fuller, or have...
and Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
were perhaps most famous. The Hoolonopahu Heiau associated with the site was later destroyed, as were many others in the area, to make room for sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
and pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
fields in the rich soils where sweet potato
Sweet potato
The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. Of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of...
and yam
Yam (vegetable)
Yam is the common name for some species in the genus Dioscorea . These are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania...
once grew in abundance. Chiefly families lived along the slopes of the Waianaes overlooking the plateau and along the shores of Waialua to the north, and many key battles between rivals for control of Oahu were also fought on the central plains surrounding Kūkaniloko.
The wide view of the skies from Kūkaniloko might also have made it a sort of Hawaiian Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
. In April 2000, a team from the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
Institute for Astronomy recorded designs and shapes on the stones that could have been used to track the movements of celestial objects for calendrical
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
purposes.