Pelekane Beach Photos
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Pelekane Beach, Big Island
Pelekane Beach on the Big Island’s South Kohala Coast isn't your typical beach park. In fact, swimming, picnicking, camping and even sunbathing isn't allowed on this beach because many ancient sacred sites are located here. But a visit is definitely worth it because you'll learn about Hawaii's past and can see traditional heiaus (Hawaiian temple sites), some of which were used by King Kamehameha the Great. One such heiau, located near Pelekane Beach, is the Pu'ukohola Heiau dedicated to the war god Ku and rebuilt by the king himself.
Pelekane Beach has also witnessed a large number of human sacrifices, which were part of ancient Hawaiian rituals. The first such sacrifice was made during the dedication ceremony for the newly erected temple and was followed by several others in the course of several years. The king’s cousin and rival, Keoua, also met his end on this beach, marking the start of Kamehameha's reign. Mailekini Heiau, which is directly located on Pelekane Beach, is much smaller than the great Pu'ukohola, but is one of the oldest and bears several ancient religious images.
Then there is another smaller heiau believed to be completely submerged about 100 feet (30 m) offshore. It's a shark heiau called Haleokapuni, dedicated to the shark god Kauhuhu. It is said that human remains were placed here for the sharks. Up until this day, a large shark population frequents this area. Local residents consider the area a breeding ground for sharks, mainly black tips and grays.
The beach itself is small and consists of white sand and coral rubble. The ocean bottom is very shallow here because of the coral rubble, soil runoff from the shore and rocks from the nearby harbor landfill. The water is almost stagnant and appears dirty. Because of this and the sharks it doesn’t really matter that swimming is prohibited here.
Pelekane Beach Overview
- Sacred religious area - no swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and camping are permitted
- Location of several heiaus (ancient Hawaiian temple sites)
- Open from 7:30 am - 4 pm daily (admission is free)
Location: Akoni Pule Hwy, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 Directions: The beach is located on the Big Island's northwest shore, just north of Spencer Beach Park and the junction of Highway 19 and Highway 270.
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