Kawaihae Harbor, Island of Hawaii
Kawaihae Harbor is on the Kohala Coast north of the Waikaloa Resorts on the Island of Hawaii. It is the home of Kawaihae Canoe Club.
Kawaihae 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 Kailima o Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park.
The small town features a handful of restaurants and art galleries. To the north of the harbor is the Kawaihae Canoe Club and a small boat ramp. To the south is Puʻukoholā Heiau national historic site, built by King Kamehameha I in 1791. Also to the south is the smaller Mailekini Heiau and the Hale o Kapuni Heiau, which is submerged.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers dredged the harbor and built the breakwall between 1957 and 1959. In 1970, construction of a small boat harbor began to the south of the main harbor entrance by several institutions under the name of Project Tugboat. Over 100 tons of conventional explosives were buried in the Kawaihae reef and detonated to clear the basin and the entrance.
It also served as the launching point for the film Waterworld with Kevin Costner. The artificial reef or floating island was just off the coast with headquarters for the movie at the harbor.
Fly-through of Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kohala, HI
Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site is located in the traditional district of Kohala on the island of Hawai`i and is situated on the northwest coastline of the island. The park is named for a prominent ceremonial structure (heiau), Pu`ukohola Heiau, which was built between 1790 and 1791. This structure and other traditional Hawaiian structures are built using mortarless, dry-set, masonry techniques. The stones used in this construction technique are not shaped or altered prior to use and the structural stability of these structures is based on the degree to which individual stones contact one another. The more contact points stones have in common, the greater the bond and stability created by the downward forces of gravity, which serve to lock the stones together.
Pu`ukohola Heiau
Pu`ukohola Heiau is a luakini (temple) class heiau. Thus it is a structure that could only be built by the chiefly class in traditional Hawaiian society, and was dedicated to the god Kukailimoku. It is built on an approximate north-south orientation measuring 69 meters long by 40 meters wide, and covers 2,469 square meters of land. It has walls measuring between 3.5 to 5 meters in height on its north, east and south sides that surround an interior courtyard; and multiple platforms and terrace features. The temple is open to the west.
Constructed in a period of Hawaiian history characterized by running conflict between competing chiefs for control of the island, Pu`ukohola Heiau was built by order of Kamehameha, the paramount chief of the Kohala and Kona Districts. Construction of the heiau began after Kapoukahi, a powerful kahuna (priest) from Kauai, prophesized that if Kamehameha built the heiau he would be able to unite the Hawaiian Islands. Oral history and legend inform us that Kamehameha’s men passed the pohaku (stones) to build this structure hand to hand from Pololu Valley, located approximately 20 miles away from the temple site on the northeast coast of the island. Construction of the temple would have followed cultural protocol ordained by the priestly class (kahuna) of Hawaiian society (Green 1993: 218).
It is the role that construction of this temple played in Kmehameha’s successful unification of the Island of Hawaii, and later the entire archipelago, that makes this site highly significant. The heiau remains a revered sacred site.
Mailekini Heiau
A second major feature is the Mailekini Heiau located approximately 170 feet to the west on the slope below Puʽukohola Heiau. It also opens to the west and the Pacific Ocean. Like Puʻukohola, Mailekini is built on an approximate north-south orientation. It also has high walls on its north, east and south sides which surround numerous internal features. However, Mailekini is smaller than Pu`ukohola, measuring about 85 meters in length, 20 meters wide, and covering an area of 1,578 square meters. This temple is thought to be older than Pu`ukohola, but, an absolute date of construction for it has not yet been determined.
Mailekini Heiau has a complicated history, and it is believed to have been rededicated and reused multiple times into the 19th century. Following the unification of Hawai`i in 1810, Kamehameha converted Mailekini Heiau into a fort under the direction of John Young, and by 1819 there were twenty-two cannons mounted on the walls to protect the king’s residence and harbor (Kelly fn 49, pp 114-115).
Both heiau are adjacent to the mouth of the Pelekane watershed and Makeahua Gulch and the historic port of Kawaihae. The area below both Pu`ukohola and Mailekini heiau known as Pelekane was a chiefly complex where Hawaiian chiefs resided for generations.
This scan is part of the recording and documentation process of the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). The HAER program is part of Heritage Documentation Programs, administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The team consisted of Todd Croteau (Project Leader), Dana Lockett, and Ryan Pierce, architects with Heritage Documentation Programs, and staff from Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, including Sara Dolan, Adam Johnson, and Shane Rumsey. Historical data was written by Adam Johnson.
Note: The animation is produced as a byproduct of the scan data captured by a high-definition laser scanner used in the production of HAER measured drawings. This video does not contain spoken word. HDP Architect Dana Lockett produced this video.
Learn more about Pu`ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site at
Kawaihae Harbor Time-Lapse
Time-lapse video of Kawaihae Harbor (Big Island of Hawaii) from Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
Puʻukohola Heiau National Historic Site – Big Island, Hawaii (TRAVEL GUIDE) | Episode# 5
Puʻukohola Heiau National Historic Site travel guide by Hipfig for visitors to Hawaii Island (the Big Island) in Hawaii.
Pu'ukohola Heiau travel guide covers –
- Introduction to Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island in Hawaii,
- how to get to Pu'ukohola Heiau historic site on Big Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Hawaii Island),
- Parking, Entrance and hours of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site,
- things to do and see at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic site with travel tips, and
- Visit to Spencer Beach near Pu'ukohola Heiau site on the Big Island, Hawaii
Pu'ukohola Heiau is located on the Hawaii Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Big Island) and is designated as a National Historical site in Hawaii.
Details on topics covered in this Pu'ukohola Heiau travel guide video are below:
1). Introduction Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site to new visitors to Big Island in Hawaii,
2). Information on how to get to Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site by Car on Big Island Hawaii,
3). Detailed information on Pu'ukohola Heiau –- like location, Car Parking, Entrance fee, Hours, visitor center, structures, temples and trails in the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site,
4). Things to see and do at this Hawaii Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site like trail walk, historical structures to see, royal grounds, Sharks in water etc.,
5). Travel tips for first time visitors visiting Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Hawaii Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Big Island).
S U B S C R I B E:
Official Hipfig Travel-Channel Website:
F A C E B O O K:
T W I T T E R:
#Hipfig #travel #Hawaii #Pu'ukoholaHeiau #BigIsland #Vacation #ilovehawaii #NationalHistoricSite
Tour Shark Temple Big Island Hawaii - Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
This temple also known as a Heiau is a temple known to be a tribute to the shark god (akua) who is believed to reside in the waters near this hill.
Waimea, Hawaii - Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site (2018)
Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located on the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaiʻi. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaiian temple, and other historic sites.
Hawaii Pacific Parks Association Ceremony.MTS
The dedication ceremony of Hawaii Pacific Parks Association bookstore at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Hawaii Island (Big Island). Kahu Kala performed a Hawaiian blessing on December 1, 2011.
Pu'ukohola Heiau, Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Heiau built by King Kamehameha I on Big Island, Hawaii.
Heritage Site - Lapakahi State Historical Park
Located 12.4 miles north of Kawaihae Harbor and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site on Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270), Lapakahi is a partially restored fishing settlement that dates back over 600 years.
Big Island Hawaii. Part 49. Kawaihae Sunset.
January 2010. No music no edit just sunset.
Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi, 35 miles (56 km) 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 Kailima o Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park. The small town features a handful of restaurants and art galleries. To the north of the harbor is the Kawaihae Canoe Club and a small boat ramp. To the south is Puʻukoholā Heiau national historic site, built by King Kamehameha I in 1791. Also to the south is the smaller Mailekini Heiau and the Hale o Kapuni Heiau (shark heiau), which is submerged.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers dredged the harbor and built the breakwall between 1957 and 1959. In 1970 construction of a small boat harbor began to the south of the main harbor entrance by several institutions under the name of Project Tugboat. It was designed as a test of the use of high explosives to create harbors in hard substrate and as a proof of the concept that small nuclear charges could be used for civil works projects. Over 100 tons of conventional explosives (roughly equivalent to the smallest nuclear charge that could be built at that time) were buried in the Kawaihae reef and detonated to clear the basin and the entrance. It is the home of Kawaihae Canoe Club. (wikipedia)
Big Island Hawaii. Part 48. Puakõ Petroglyphs.
January 2010. Music by: Skalpel.
Ancient Hawaiians called their stone art k'ii pohaku, or images in stone. The k'ii pohaku are petroglyphs, which comes from the greek words, petros for rock, and glyphein to carve. This rock art provides a unique look into the past, but questions can only be answered by speculation, for there is almost no historic evidence of the petroglyphs origin in Hawaii. Although the age of Hawaiis images is not known, a chronology of style can be discerned. The earliest were simple stick figures, while the figures with triangular torsos, which are only found in Hawaii, came later. Others that show carvings of horses and cattle were obviously carved after Westerners appeared in Hawaii. The island of Hawaii has the greatest number of petroglyphs in the state, and areas of concentration are almost always found on the smooth pãhoehoe lava, cliff faces, or smooth interior walls, on the dry and lava inundated areas of the island, and along trails known to the ancient Hawaiians.
Puako Petroplyphs
An area of large concentration is the Puakõ Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve, located just north of the Mauna Lani Resort. About 1,200 petroglyphs are in the section through which access is allowed. There are also petroglyphs scattered throughout the Mauna Lani Resort. The Muana Lani Hotel has a brochure and map and offers guided tours on the property with a Hawaiian historian. The largest concentration of petroglyphs in the Pacific lies within the 233-acre Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District. The 1 1/2-mile Malama Trail starts north of Mauna Lani Resort; take Highway 19 to the resort turnoff and drive toward the coast on North Kaniku Drive, which ends at a parking lot; the trailhead is marked by a sign and interpretive kiosk. Go in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperature is cooler. A total of 3,000 designs have been identified, including paddlers, sails, marchers, dancers, and family groups, as well as dog, chicken, turtle, and deity symbols.
(letsgo-hawaii.com)
Ipu Making at Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Ipu Making at the 40th Annual Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Hawaii (August 11, 2012).
Hoailona with our Mauna Kea Protectors - August 2015
Lakea Trask and Jojo Henderson speak about the many hoailona (signs) following the Unity March in Waikiki and the Ha'ulelani ceremonies at Pu'ukohola heiau in Kawaihae, South Kohala.
Sonny Lim at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Grammy award winning musician Sonny Lim provided a free workshop on Hawaiian slack key guitar playing at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Hawaii on February 14, 2013 as part of an ongoing series of programs presented by the park and the Royal Order of Kamehameha.
Explanation by Fred Cachola of how Kaloko-Honokohau became a national park
Part of the explanation by Commissioner Fred Cachola of how Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park became a national rather than a state park.
Hawaii Sharks 3 (December 3, 2011)
Get a closeup view of some of Hawaii's sharks! Today was an unusual day at Pelekane Bay (@ Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, HI). Instead of the small blacktip reef sharks that we normally see, about a dozen larger sharks came very close to shore.
Pu`ukohola Heiau Visitor Center
Time-lapse footage of a beautiful day at the Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site Visitor Center.
Camp Tarawa Boots on the Ground Program
Special Presentation of the Marine Corps League Camp Tarawa Detachment #1255 at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Hawaii (10/28/2011)
Ka Na'i Aupuni - Lapakahi: Ancient Fishing Village
Take a journey with Uncle Fred Cachola to significant places in Kamehameha 'Ekahi's life. This video talks about Kawai'a, an ancient fishing village that helped sustain Kamehameha and his warriors.
Register for an online course to learn more about Kamehameha 'Ekahi:
Pu'ukohola Heiau - An ancient Hawaiian Historical site
The stone Heiau at Puukohola is one of the last major sacred structures built in Hawaii before outside influences permanently altered Hawaiian life . Constructed in 1790-1791 by Kamehameha 1, this Heiau, or temple, played a crucial role in the ruler's ascendancy. It endures as one of Hawaii's most important historical monuments.
By 1790, Kamehameha, whom many believed destined to rule all of the Hawaiian islands, had invaded and conquered Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Yet he was not able to lay full claim to his home island of Hawaii because of opposition from his chief rival and cousin Keoua Kuahuula. While on Molokai, Kamehameha sent his aunt to seek direction from the prophet Kapoukahi, who told her that Kamehameha would conquer all the islands if he build a large Heiau dedicated to his family war god Kukilimimoku atop Puukohola, Hill of the Whale. Evidently, it worked. Kamehameha I became the first ruler to unite the islands under one royal house.
The Hawaiians were familiar with human sacrifice. Victims unfortunate enough to encounter the altar known as Hale o Kapuni Heiau, became the subjects of an unusual and elaborate ceremony. The altar is accessible during low tide, but at high tide becomes submergedÖ in shark infested waters, no less.
We see the dorsal fins of the blacked tipped reef sharks occasionally, in the water around the old temple site. I get the creeping sensation that there is a residual memory at work in the shark's habits. They were once the grateful recipients of human victims at this very spot.
Sponsored by:
- an interactive map of the Big Island
- an eco-friendly vacation rental in the heart of Kihei, Maui.