Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site celebrating 54th anniversary with free Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Kamehameha the Great, the first person to unite the warring islands into the Kingdom of Hawai'i, had the major temple built by thousands and thousands of men from 1790 to 1791.
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The Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island will celebrate its 54th anniversary as part of the National Park Service with Hoʻokuʻikahi i Puʻukoholā, its free annual Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival on Aug. 15 and 16.
This year’s theme is Mālama Kō Aloha or “Keep your love.”
The weekend in Kawaihae begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday with opening ceremonies at Puʻukoholā Heiau that include hoʻokupu (gift-giving), protocol and hula.
The family friendly festival activities continue at Spencer Park at ʻŌhaiʻula Beach from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. There will be cultural practitioners sharing traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts, music, hula, demonstrations, hands-on activities and informational booths.
Pu’ukoholā Heiau, one of the last major temples built in the Hawaiian Islands, was constructed from 1790 to 1791 by Kamehameha the Great, the first person to unite the warring islands into the Kingdom of Hawai’i.
He built it due to a prophecy that came through a priest named Kapoukahi, who said if he were to build a heiau on the hill known as Pu’ukoholā, and dedicate it to his family’s war god Kūkā’ilimoku, he would be able to conquer all of the islands.
According to lore, thousands and thousands of men labored for nearly a year to construct this heiau. The workers brought rocks from the distant Pololū Valley by forming a human chain nearly 25 miles long, handing the water-worn lava rocks one person to another up and over Kohala Mountain to this site. Without the use of mortar, cement or other bonding materials, the skilled laborers placed these rocks in exact locations in order to meet specific building specifications.
The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association and Nā Aikane o Puʻukoholā Heiau. Be sure to bring hats, sunscreen and water. Attendees also are encouraged to bring refreshments if they plan to stay throughout the day.
For more information, visit the park website.
