Day 176: Loaloa Heiau, Maui, Hawai’i
📌APIA Every Day (175) - Loaloa Heiau, situated in Kaupo on the Island of Maui, is the largest and best-preserved luakini heiau on the island. The heiau overlooks the rural community of Kaupo, with views of the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Manawainui Valley to the north. Historically, early Hawaiian shrines were simple structures built by families and small communities. As the population grew and religious practices evolved, larger heiau were constructed for public ceremonies. The ali'i (chiefs) worshiped four major gods—Lono, Kane, Kanaloa, and Ku—while commoners worshiped individual family gods and the major gods under the direction of high priests.
Loaloa Heiau, built around 1730 for ali'i 'ai moku Kekaulike, ruler of Maui, exemplifies a luakini heiau. The structure features a three-tiered rectangular raised platform, divided into eastern and western sections by a stone wall, with overall dimensions of 115 feet by 500 feet. The walls are terraced for stability. Heiau in ancient Hawaii varied in size and function, from single upright stones to large, complex structures. Larger heiau were typically built by the ali'i, and the most complex, the luakini heiau, could only be constructed by an ali'i 'ai moku (paramount chief). These heiau were used for rituals involving human or animal sacrifice and symbolized the paramount chief's authority over his lands and people.
In 1802, Kamehameha I, while en route to conquer Kauai, stopped at Maui and rebuilt Loaloa Heiau, dedicating it to Ku. Following Kamehameha I's unification of the Hawaiian Islands, the influence of Maui's ali'i 'ai moku and religious centers like Kaupo declined. The traditional Hawaiian religious system was further dismantled in 1819 when Kamehameha's successor, Liholiho, ended the kapu system, leading to the abandonment and ruin of many heiau, including Loaloa Heiau. This marked a significant shift in Hawaiian culture as many ancient religious sites fell into disuse. Because of its significant cultural importance, it was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: Loaloa Heiau
National Archives Catelog: Hawaii NHL Loaloa Heiau
Images of Old Hawai’i: Lo‘alo‘a Heiau
Kaupo, Maui History of the Land: Loaloa
Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library - Loaloa
#apiaeveryday #nativehawaiian #nativehawaiianhistory #loaloaheiau #maui #kaupo #hawaii #kanakamaoli #kamehamehai #ku #nationalregisterofhistoricplaces
