Pu'ukohlā Heiau

Pu'ukohlā Heiau. . Build a heiau on Pu'ukoholā, the "hill of the whale," dedicate it to your war god, and you will achieve your dream - you will rule the islands. Responding to this prophecy told by Kapoykahi, a famous seer, Kamehameha built the heiau (temple) that stands before you. , Work began in 1790. Workers carefully set tons of water worn lava rock in place without mortar. Kamehameha labored with them. Only his brother was excused because he would preside over dedication rituals upon Pu'ukeholā Heiau and had to remain ceremonially clean. To please the war god, the heiau had to be ritually perfect. , By the summer of 1791, the heiau was complete. Soon Kamehameha ruled Hawai'i, then Maui, Lāna'i, Moloka'i, and O'ahu. When he added Kaua'i through peaceful negotiations in 1810, the prophecy was fulfilled - Kamehameha the Great ruled all of the Hawaiian Islands. , Pu'ukeholā Heiau still holds great significance to many native Hawaiians. To respect their traditions, and to protect the structure, the heiau is closed to the general public. Only native Hawaiians exercising traditional religious practices may enter the temple.