Six Sacred Sites of Hawaii
Take a tour of the idyllic sites across the many islands where native Hawaiians have longstanding spiritual connections
- By Megan Gambino
- Smithsonian.com, November 16, 2011
(Photo Resource Hawaii / Alamy)
Centuries ago, at a prominent hill in Kaa, a traditional land division in the northern portion of the island of Lanai, native Hawaiians would offer prayers to Kane, a god associated with freshwater and life. In 1400, Kawelo, a priest of the region, began to notice that the health of his people and their animals was deteriorating. Kawelo traced their illnesses to a fire that Lanikaula, another priest, was burning across the Kalohi Channel on the island of Molokai. To ward off Lanikaula’s bad prayers, Kawelo made his own fire. He also went a step further. He fetched some of Lanikaula’s feces from Molokai and burned them in his fire in Lanai. According to Kepa Maly, the executive director of the Lanai Culture and Heritage Center, whose kapuna, or elders, taught him the story, the sorcerous act led to the death of Lanikaula and restored health to Lanai.
Today, Keahiakawelo, which literally translates to “fire made by Kawelo,” is a wind-swept, Mars-like landscape of red rock mounds and pinnacles about seven miles, or a 40-minute drive from small Lanai City. There are only 30 miles of paved road on the rugged island, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to get there. From lookouts, visitors can take in awe-inspiring views of the barren, boulder-speckled terrain.
“When we tell people about going out there, we ask them to be respectful of place, not to remove stones or move things,” says Maly. “Sort of that old adage: Take only pictures and leave only footprints behind.”
Comments (6)
I have been to Hawaii five times, four during WWll and again in 1996 on vacation. I failed to do proper research before visiting in '96 and failed to visit some most interesting sites. Thanks for these sites.
Posted by Louie Hornsby on February 7,2012 | 11:21 AM
I sure hope one day to go and visit in person that magnificent place and feel its spirituality and splendor. Merci-Thank you again for sharing.
Posted by Lucien Alexandre Marion on December 21,2011 | 01:13 PM
Mahalo for the knowledge you have shared. Maybe to share about sacred sites listed on each island and do an educational featuring cronilogical hstory, or the specific time periods about each moku would be appreciated. I don't remember this ever been done. That would be exciting. There is so much history, and sacred sites are referred to as wahi pana. Education and knowledge shared excites academic intrest of that unique culture.
Posted by Casina Waterman on December 7,2011 | 01:53 PM
One more reason to visit these paradise islands...
Posted by Lucien Alexandre Marion on November 24,2011 | 03:41 PM
Thankyou for showing the 6 sacred places in Hawaii. I didn't realize there was the sacred place on Molokai with the sacred rocks. I've been to all the other places except the 6th place. What about the 7 sacred pools in Hana, Maui or the Old Pali Lookout on the island of Oahu where Hawaiian battles were fought, or the Hawaiian fishpond at Koolau Ranch on the island of Oahu.
Posted by Chieko Higuchi on November 23,2011 | 10:44 AM
these petroglphs are so amazing, you can wander around for hours and get so lost in the stories they still tell
Posted by joani morris on November 18,2011 | 02:23 AM