Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Puukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a United States
National Historic Site
located on the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaii
. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark
ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaii
an temple, and other historic sites.
took control of western and northern Hawaii island (the Kona
and Kohala
districts) in 1782, but for eight years since then fought in a number of inconclusive battles. After returning from Maui
in 1790, he was attacked by his cousin Keōua Kuahuula
who still controlled the East side of the island. He returned to the village of Kawaihae, where he had spent some time earlier. A respected kahuna
(priest) named Kapoukahi suggested building a luakini
heiau
(sacrificial temple) to gain the favor of the war god Kūkailimoku
.
Puukoholā Heiau meaning "Temple on the Hill of the Whale" was the result, probably on the site of an older temple from about 1580. It was built entirely by hand with no mortar, in less than a year. The red stones were transported by a human chain about 14 miles long, from Pololū Valley
to the East.
Construction was supervised by Kamehameha's brother Keliimaikai
, involving thousands of people.
The ship Fair American had been captured in 1790, along with one surviving crew member Isaac Davis
, after the incident at Olowalu.
Davis and a stranded British sailor named John Young
became important military advisors to King Kamehameha.
John Young built a house and ranch nearby, and that site is also within the park.
News of Kamehameha's large following had spread to the other islands, who joined forces and attempted to invade from the Northeast.
The two Europeans had instructed Kamehameha's army in the use of muskets and mounted cannon onto double-hulled canoes. The invaders were no match for the artillery and were repelled in what was known as the Battle of Kepuwahaulaula (red mouthed gun), just North of Waipio Valley
.
Kamehameha summoned his cousin Keōua Kuahuula with the ruse of a peace treaty.
It is not clear why Keōua accepted the invitation. Perhaps he was surrendering to fate, discouraged by losing many of his warriors in the Battle of Hilo
and subsequent volcanic eruption of 1790.
One story told is that Keōua secretly mutilated himself in order to defile the sacrifice.
As he stepped ashore, he and his party were captured and killed.
With the offering of the bodies the new temple was officially dedicated.
The campaign to unite all the islands continued with Maui in 1794, and Oahu in 1810 at the battle of Nuuanu.
The one-sided nature of this "battle" has given it the name "Slaughter at Kawaihae". On the 200th anniversary in 1991, a healing ceremony was held here by descendants of some of those who took part in the assassination.
The British explorer George Vancouver
arrived here in 1793 during his Vancouver Expedition
, and left cattle to start the ranching industry.
is located at the site. An interpretive trail begins at the visitor center and leads to Puukoholā.
Entry to the public is not allowed, since there are believed to still be bones buried in the site.
About 170 feet west of Puukoholā is the ruin of the earlier Mailekini Heiau. John Young later converted it into a fort to protect the harbor.
Just offshore is Hale o Kapuni, an underwater structure dedicated to sharks. A pōhaku (stone post) marks a spot where the feeding of the sharks could be viewed.
Across the bay is the modern Kawaihae
harbor.
On December 29, 1962, the site was made a National Historic Landmark
, and on October 15, 1966, listed in the National Register of Historic Places
as site 66000105. In 2000 the name was changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling.
To visit the park, turn makai (toward the sea) from Akoni Pule Highway
, just north of the intersection of Kawaihae Road (route 19) and Queen Kaahuman Highway, part of the Hawaii Belt Road.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Historic Site
National Historical Park
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
located on the northwestern coast of 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...
. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
an temple, and other historic sites.
The time of unification
Kamehameha IKamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
took control of western and northern Hawaii island (the Kona
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,...
and Kohala
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
districts) in 1782, but for eight years since then fought in a number of inconclusive battles. After returning from Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
in 1790, he was attacked by his cousin Keōua Kuahuula
Keoua Kuahuula
Keōua Kuahuula was an Alii during the time of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii.His name means Keōua of the "red altar"....
who still controlled the East side of the island. He returned to the village of Kawaihae, where he had spent some time earlier. A respected kahuna
Kahuna
Kahuna is a Hawaiian word, defined in the as a "Priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession." Forty different types of kahuna are listed in the book, Tales from the Night Rainbow...
(priest) named Kapoukahi suggested building a luakini
Luakini
In ancient Hawai'i, a luakini temple, or luakini heiau, was a Native Hawaiian sacred place where human and animal blood sacrifices were offered....
heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
(sacrificial temple) to gain the favor of the war god Kūkailimoku
Kū
In Hawaiian mythology Kū or Kū-ka-ili-moku is one of the four great gods along with Kanaloa, Kāne, and Lono.He is known as the god of war and the husband of the goddess Hina. Some have taken this to suggest a complementary dualism, as the word kū in the Hawaiian language means "standing up" while...
.
Puukoholā Heiau meaning "Temple on the Hill of the Whale" was the result, probably on the site of an older temple from about 1580. It was built entirely by hand with no mortar, in less than a year. The red stones were transported by a human chain about 14 miles long, from Pololū Valley
Pololu Valley
Pololū is the Northernmost of a series of erosional valleys forming the east coast of Kohala Mountain on the Island of Hawaii. The word Pololū means long spear in the Hawaiian language.- Features :...
to the East.
Construction was supervised by Kamehameha's brother Keliimaikai
Keliimaikai
Kalanimālokuloku-i-Kepookalani Keliimaikai was a High Chief and the most popular brother of Kamehameha the Great, who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was generally credited as an ancestor of Queen Emma of Hawaii, the consort of Kamehameha IV, a candidate for the Royal Election of 1872. His name...
, involving thousands of people.
The ship Fair American had been captured in 1790, along with one surviving crew member Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis (Hawaii)
Isaac Davis was a Welsh advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He arrived in Hawaii in 1790 as the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He along with John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha...
, after the incident at Olowalu.
Davis and a stranded British sailor named John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
became important military advisors to King Kamehameha.
John Young built a house and ranch nearby, and that site is also within the park.
News of Kamehameha's large following had spread to the other islands, who joined forces and attempted to invade from the Northeast.
The two Europeans had instructed Kamehameha's army in the use of muskets and mounted cannon onto double-hulled canoes. The invaders were no match for the artillery and were repelled in what was known as the Battle of Kepuwahaulaula (red mouthed gun), just North of 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 "battle"
In the summer of 1791, the massive temple was finished, measuring about 224 by 100 feet.Kamehameha summoned his cousin Keōua Kuahuula with the ruse of a peace treaty.
It is not clear why Keōua accepted the invitation. Perhaps he was surrendering to fate, discouraged by losing many of his warriors in the Battle of Hilo
1790 Footprints
The 1790 Footprints refer to a set of footprints found near the Kīlauea volcano in present-day Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii...
and subsequent volcanic eruption of 1790.
One story told is that Keōua secretly mutilated himself in order to defile the sacrifice.
As he stepped ashore, he and his party were captured and killed.
With the offering of the bodies the new temple was officially dedicated.
The campaign to unite all the islands continued with Maui in 1794, and Oahu in 1810 at the battle of Nuuanu.
The one-sided nature of this "battle" has given it the name "Slaughter at Kawaihae". On the 200th anniversary in 1991, a healing ceremony was held here by descendants of some of those who took part in the assassination.
More visitors
John Young was to act as interpreter and negotiator for several more important visitors.The British explorer George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
arrived here in 1793 during his Vancouver Expedition
Vancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
, and left cattle to start the ranching industry.
Today
A visitor center operated by the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
is located at the site. An interpretive trail begins at the visitor center and leads to Puukoholā.
Entry to the public is not allowed, since there are believed to still be bones buried in the site.
About 170 feet west of Puukoholā is the ruin of the earlier Mailekini Heiau. John Young later converted it into a fort to protect the harbor.
Just offshore is Hale o Kapuni, an underwater structure dedicated to sharks. A pōhaku (stone post) marks a spot where the feeding of the sharks could be viewed.
Across the bay is the modern Kawaihae
Kawaihae
Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, north of Kailua-Kona. Its harbor includes a fuel depot, shipping terminal and military landing site. Outside of the man-made breakwall of the harbor is a popular surf spot and the Pua...
harbor.
On December 29, 1962, the site was made a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, and on October 15, 1966, listed in 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...
as site 66000105. In 2000 the name was changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling.
To visit the park, turn makai (toward the sea) from Akoni Pule Highway
Akoni Pule Highway
The Akoni Pule Highway, Hawaii State Highway Route 270, is the main road along the North Kohala Coast on the Island of Hawaii from Kawaihae to Upolu Point and then on to Pololū Valley Lookout.* Total miles = 27.0 -History:...
, just north of the intersection of Kawaihae Road (route 19) and Queen Kaahuman Highway, part of the Hawaii Belt Road.