Day 362: Puʻukoholā Heiau, Kawaihae, Hawai’i
📌APIA Every Day (362) - Puʻukoholā Heiau, located on the west coast of the Big Island, was one of the last major temples built in Hawai’i. Commissioned by Kamehameha the Great in 1790, the heiau (sacred temple) marked a turning point in his campaign to unify the islands under his rule. For more than two centuries, the site has remained a significant historic and spiritual center for Native Hawaiians.
In the 1780s, Hawai’i was undergoing political turmoil as different chiefs, including Kamehameha, vied for political control of the Big Island. A local kahuna (priest) named Kāpoūkahi prophesied that Kamehameha would win the conflict and succeed in uniting the islands if he built a heiau dedicated to the war god Kūkaʻilimoku at Puʻukoholā. Starting in 1790, thousands of workers transported lava rocks from the Pololū Valley, 25 miles away, to construct the temple. Within a year, they completed the final structure measuring 224 by 100 feet, with retaining walls up to 20 feet high. In 1791, Kāpoūkahi’s prophecy came true as Kamehameha’s rival and cousin, high chief Keōua Kūahu‘ula, became the principal sacrifice at the temple. Following this development, Kamehameha gained control of the Big Island, later conquering Maui in 1794, Oʻahu in 1795, and Kauaʻi in 1810, ultimately becoming the Hawaiian Kingdom’s first king.
Recognizing its political and cultural significance, Puʻukoholā Heiau was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and a National Historic Site in 1972. Today, the Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site includes several significant areas tied to Kamehameha’s legacy, including Mailekini Heiau, Hale o Kapuni Heiau, Pelekane, and the John Young Homestead. In 2024, Hawaiian practitioners gathered at Puʻukoholā to celebrate the 52nd annual Hoʻokuʻikahi Establishment Day and Hawaiian Cultural Festival, honoring the heiau’s enduring legacy as a symbol of unification.
Written by Avneet Dhaliwal
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: Puʻukoholā Heiau
National Park Service: History & Culture - Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
National Park Service: Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Foundation Document Overview
TCLF: Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
Big Island Video News: Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Celebration Set For August
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