Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument

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Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau
Ruins of mahuka heiau.jpg
Main platform at Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau
Nearest city Haleiwa, Hawaii
Area 2 acres (8,100 m2)
Built 17th century
NRHP Reference # 66000292[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966
Designated NHL December 29, 1962[2]

Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site on the North Shore of Oʻahu is the largest heiau on the island, covering 2 acres (8,100 m2) on a hilltop overlooking Waimea Bay and Waimea Valley. Puʻu o Mahuka means 'Hill of Escape'. Hawaiian legends have it that from this point, Pele (Volcano Goddess) leaped from Oahu to the next island, Molokai. From its commanding heights, sentries could once monitor much of the northern shoreline of Oʻahu, and even spot signal fires from the Wailua Complex of Heiaus on Kauaʻi, with which it had ties. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962, when it became the center of a 4-acre (16,000 m2) State park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.[3]

The highest of the three walled enclosures may date to the 17th century, with the lower two enclosures perhaps added during the 18th century. These were times of great conflict, and the upper platform appears to have functioned as a heiau luakini (sacrificial temple) to bring success in war. During the 1770s, the overseer of this heiau was Ka'opulupulu, the high priest of the last independent high chief of Oʻahu, Kahāhana. In 1792, George Vancouver's ship, HMS Daedalus, anchored near Waimea Bay to collect water. Three men in his shore party were killed in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians, and may have been taken to the heiau as human sacrifices. After Kamehameha I conquered Oʻahu in 1795, his high priest Hewahewa led religious ceremonies here and the heiau remained in use until the traditional kapu system was abolished in 1819.[3]

The Pleiades (Makali'i) as seen from Kaena Point, rising out of Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau just after sunset, mark the beginning of Makahiki.

The site can be reached from Pupukea Homestead Road (Highway 835), which starts at Kamehameha Highway (Highway 83) across from Pupukea fire station.

Gallery

  • Puu o Mahuka Heiau.jpg

    Panoramic view of Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau

  • Oahu-PuuoMahukaHeiau-topcorner-toward-Kaena.JPG

    View from top corner toward Kaʻena Point

  • Oahu-PuuoMahukaHeiau-topviewnorth.JPG

    View from top corner looking north

  • View from mahuka heiau to wailea.jpg

    View toward Shark's Cove

  • Oahu-PuuoMahukHeiau-lowerwall-sidepath.JPG

    Lower wall and pathway

  • Oahu-PuuoMahukaHeiau-Waimeavalleywall.JPG

    View across Waimea Valley

  • Oahu-PuuoMahukaHeiau-altarwithrooster.JPG

    Visitor altar with guardian rooster

References

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