Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Ulupō Heiau on the eastern edge of Kawai Nui Marsh
in Kailua, Hawaii, is an ancient site associated in legend with the menehune
, but later with high chiefs of Oahu
, such as Kakuhihewa
in the 15th century and Kualii
in the late 17th century. It may have reached the peak of its importance in 1750, before being abandoned after Oahu was conquered in the 1780s. The site became a territorial park in 1954, was partially restored in the early 1960s, marked with a bronze plaque by the State Commission on Historical Sites in 1962, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
The massive stone platform of the heiau
measures 140 by 180 feet (54.9 m), with outer walls up to 30 feet (9.1 m) high, its size and scale indicating both its cultural importance and the chiefly power of its patrons. Many of the stones may have been transported from as far as Kualoa, more than 10 miles (16.1 km) away. Although it probably began as an agricultural heiau (mapele) with springs feeding crops of taro, banana, sweet potato, and sugarcane along the fringes of the 400 acres (1.6 km²) Kawai Nui pond full of mullet
and other fish
. However, the great warrior chief Kualii may have converted it to a heiau luakini
, with an altar, an oracle
tower (anuu), thatched hale, and wooden images (kii
).
Kailua, with its ample supplies of pond fish, irrigated fields, and canoe landings, was a center of political power for Koolaupoko, which often vied with Waialua for control of Oahu. After defeating the forces of Oahu high chief Kahahana
in the 1780s, Maui chief Kahekili lived in Kailua, as did Kamehameha I after conquering Oahu in 1795. In later years, Queen Kalama
, consort of Kamehameha III
, inherited most of the land in Kailua after the death of her husband in 1854, most of it acquired in 1917 by Harold Kainalu Long Castle for his Kaneohe Ranch
.
Kawai Nui Marsh
Kawai Nui Marsh is, at over , the largest wetlands in the Hawaiian Islands. The marsh is located near Kailua on the windward side of O'ahu and is owned by the State of Hawaii and the City & County of Honolulu...
in Kailua, Hawaii, is an ancient site associated in legend with the menehune
Menehune
In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune [pronounced meh-neh-HOO-neh] are said to be a people, sometimes described as dwarfs in size, who live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands, far from the eyes of normal humans. Their favorite food is the maia , but they also like...
, but later with high chiefs 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...
, such as 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...
in the 15th century 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...
in the late 17th century. It may have reached the peak of its importance in 1750, before being abandoned after Oahu was conquered in the 1780s. The site became a territorial park in 1954, was partially restored in the early 1960s, marked with a bronze plaque by the State Commission on Historical Sites in 1962, and 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 1972.
The massive stone platform of the 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...
measures 140 by 180 feet (54.9 m), with outer walls up to 30 feet (9.1 m) high, its size and scale indicating both its cultural importance and the chiefly power of its patrons. Many of the stones may have been transported from as far as Kualoa, more than 10 miles (16.1 km) away. Although it probably began as an agricultural heiau (mapele) with springs feeding crops of taro, banana, sweet potato, and sugarcane along the fringes of the 400 acres (1.6 km²) Kawai Nui pond full of mullet
Mullet (fish)
The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times...
and other fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. However, the great warrior chief Kualii may have converted it to a heiau 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....
, with an altar, an oracle
Oracle
In Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....
tower (anuu), thatched hale, and wooden images (kii
Tiki
Tiki refers to large wood and stone carvings of humanoid forms in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. The term is also used in Māori mythology where Tiki is the first man, created by either Tūmatauenga or Tāne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond – she seduced him...
).
Kailua, with its ample supplies of pond fish, irrigated fields, and canoe landings, was a center of political power for Koolaupoko, which often vied with Waialua for control of Oahu. After defeating the forces of Oahu high chief Kahahana
Kahahana
Kahahana was the 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and Alii Aimoku of Molokai. He ruled the island of Oahu and its tributary, the island of Molokai, from 1773 until his death in 1783. He was elected by the Oahu nobility to succeed Kumahana as Moi of Oahu. This was the second king to be elected to succeed...
in the 1780s, Maui chief Kahekili lived in Kailua, as did Kamehameha I after conquering Oahu in 1795. In later years, Queen Kalama
Kalama
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili, Queen Consort of Hawaii was Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.-Early life:...
, consort of Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, inherited most of the land in Kailua after the death of her husband in 1854, most of it acquired in 1917 by Harold Kainalu Long Castle for his Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited manages the real estate owned by the family of Harold K.L. Castle and Alice H. Castle, and their non-profit charitable foundation, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation founded in 1962. The real estate portfolio consists of land holdings on the windward side of Oahu,...
.