OAHU SACRED PLACES

The Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area 0, at the end of Aiea Heights Drive, is a 390-acre forest park, where you’ll find the remains of a 15th century heiau hoola, an ancient temple of healing.

Honolulu

The Royal Mausoleum State Monument on 2261 Nuuanu Avenue is the final resting place for Hawaiian royals of the Kamehameha and Kalakaua dynasties.

Kailua

The Ulu Po Heiau State Monument is located behind the YMCA. According to legend, this heiau was built by the menehune, the legendary little people of Hawaii, comparable perhaps to elves or leprechauns.

Kaneohe

The Kualoa Beach Park, located on Kamehameha Highway on the windward side, is home to an ancient fishpond that is said to have been built by the menehune, the legendary little people of Hawaii. The area used to be a favorite meeting place of the Hawaiian royalty and a site for ceremonies and celebrations.

Keawaula

The Kaneana Cave is located on Farrington Highway, two miles before you reach the Kaena Point State Park. This is a 450-foot cavern that is said to be the home of Nanue, the son of the shark god, who is half shark and half man.

Makaha

The Kaneaki Heiau at Ala Hele Street is a temple that was built in the 17th century and dedicated to the god of harvest and fertility, Lono. This is a well-preserved site, where human sacrifices were made in ancient Hawaii.

Pupukea

The Puu O Mahuka Heiau State Monument on Pupukea Road is Oahu's largest heiau. People still bring offerings to this sacred place. You’ll find one of the greatest views on the North Shore up here and a strong sensation of goose bumps. It used to be a site of human sacrifice and allegedly, three of Captain Vancouver’s men lost their lives here in the late 1700s. Take the road up the hill between the Foodland and the small sarong store across from Shark’s Cove. The first right leads to a small road with high-speed bumps. Follow it to the end.

Wahiawa

The Kukanilolo Birthing Stones State Monument is located at the intersection of Kamehameha Hwy (Hwy 99) and Whitmore Avenue. Hawaiian royal women came here to give birth. You’ll find a group of strangely shaped stones inside a circle of trees. Please do not step on the stones and do not take any of the offerings that are still brought here.

Waianae

The Kuilioloa Heiau is located on the southwestern end of Pokai Bay Beach next to the Waianae boat harbor. This heiau was used as a place of refuge and built about 900 years ago. It has several platforms symbolizing the level of attainable enlightenment and spirituality and is surrounded by the ocean on three sides. Please respect the place and the people and do not enter the platforms.

Waikiki

You might not expect a sacred place in busy Waikiki. But right next to the police station on the Kuhio Beach side of Kalakaua Avenue, there are four large stones. They are named after four kahunas, the ancient priests Kapaemahu, Kahaloa, Kapuni and Kinohi. It is said that the kahunas put their power into the rocks, what was long forgotten, but now the stones are fenced off and a plaque tells the story.

Waimea

Hale o Lono is right outside the entrance to Waimea Falls Park. The "House of Lono" was build in the early 15th century and dedicated to the god Lono, who was in charge of agriculture and harvests, fertility, medicine, weather and athletic competitions. It is one of the oldest and largest preserved historical sites.

Waimea Falls Park is located on Kamehameha Highway across from Waimea Bay.

Several heiaus have been rebuilt outside and inside of this park. Once the valley was populated and considered to be sacred ground. Here you’ll find many archaeological sites and fascinating plant and bird life. The park is open during the day and an admission fee is charged.