Hikiau Heiau

Hikiau Heiau, Big Island

Located at Napo'opo'o Beach (Kealakekua Bay), the Hikiau Heiau is an ancient Hawaiian temple site that was built by King Kalani'opu'u. It is a luakini (human sacrifice) heiau.

The original heiau used to be more than 250 feet (76 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide. A smaller stone platform is built on top of the main platform and is believed to have been the location of the lele (altar).

Hikiau Heiau was visited by Captain James Cook in 1778-1779. When the natives first saw his huge ship sail into Kealakekua Bay, they thought he was the returning god Lono, the god of agriculture and prosperity. The time when Cook arrived was during the months of the makahiki, which was a festival honoring the god Lono with hula performances, competitive games, feasting and special offerings.

Cook was treated as a divine guest by the Hawaiians. He attended a special ceremony at another nearby heiau that was held in his honor. And at Hikiau Heiau, he performed the first Christian ceremony in Hawaii, a funeral service for one of his crew members.

Shortly after Cook left Hawaii, he was forced to return due to a broken ship mast. By then the makahiki festivities had ended and the natives’ attitude toward Cook and his crew had changed. If they were truly divine, why would they have to return to land just because of a broken mast? This is what a mere mortal would do, not a god. Not to mention that one of the crew members had died a few days earlier.

Cook was killed in a conflict at Kealakekua Bay shortly after returning to land. Cook had tried to take the chief hostage in return for a small rowboat that a few natives had stolen from his ship.