Poipu in Koloa in Kauai County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)
Ka Moolelo O Kaneiolouma
⎯⎯⎯
The Story of Kanei'olouma
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 5, 2025
1. The Story of Kanei'olouma - Marker
[Top Left - Map]Moku (District) of Kona
Ahupua'a (Division) of Kōloa
'Ili (Subdivision) of Wai'ōhai
Po'ipu Beach Park
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[Bottom Left - Pictures]
"If you don't have the past in a culture, you'll never have a future.", Rupert Rowe, Po'o
Kane'iolouma delegation with Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalha attends 200th Annual Ho'oku'ikahi Commeration of peace between the Kaua'i Kingdom
this page online
"People really need to go back to the heiau; it's fundamental to who we are as a culture." - Billy Kaohelauli'i, Po'o
[Top Right - The Story of Kānei'olouma - Hawaiian]
Ka Mea Nui o Kela Kahua
He kahua kauhale o Kaneiolouma mai ke au kahiko loa mai, no loko mal o na makahiki 1400. Aia maluna o keia kahua na ano keena a me na kahua like ole, he kahua hale noho ohana no, he mahina ai kalo no, he loko l'a no, a he mau keena no no ka hana oihana pule a me ka oihana hoomalu a na alil, Aia maloko o ke keena nui loa a kela kahua he wahi no na hana paani Hawaii like ole no ka wa hoolaulea makahiki. He 13 eka ka nui o keia kahua holookoa.
He Wahi Pana
He wahi pana keia kahua nei o Kaneiolouma. Ua pili keia wahi i kekahi o na moolelo kaulana loa o ka aina, e like me ka moolelo o ke kipa ana mai o Kapoulakina'u, ke kaikaina o Pele, ka wahine o ka lua pele, a ua pae mai la na waa o na alii o na mokupuni e ae o ka pae aina nei maanei nei no ka hoouka kaua ana mai i na puali koa o ko Kauai poe i ke au la Manokalanipo, ka mo'i o
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 5, 2025
2. The Story of Kanei'olouma - Marker in context
Ka Mahi Ai a me ka Loko l'a
Mamuli o ka hana akamai loa a na kupuna, ua kukuluia na auwai loihi loa e hali ana i ka wai mauka loa mai a hiki i keia kahua nel. O kekahi o na auwai, ua kukuluia maluna ae o ka aina me na pohaku, a i kona ku ana i keia kahua nei, he auwaha maoli i eliia'i ma ka honua. Pela e iho ai ka wai mai uka mai a i kai nei e hookahe ai i ka wai iloko o na lo'i kalo a me ka loko i'a nui iloko o keia kahua.
Na Mea e A'o ai
He pomaikal no ka wawahi ole ia ana a ka hapa nui o keia mau pa a me na kahua pohaku, a pela e hiki ai ke ikeia ka waiho ana o na pa a me na kahua pohaku a hiki i keia wa. He kokua nohoi keia i ke kukulu hou ia ana o ua mau mea nei a paa. Manaoia e kukulu hou i ke kahua holookoa nei me ka hoolako pu i na hale a me na mea e pono ai e hui ai kanaka e a'o ai i na hana like ole a na kupuna o ka poe o Kauai nei, o ka mahi ai oe, ka malama loko i'a oe, ke kalai waa me ke kalai laau no oe, ke kukulu pohaku no, a me na mea like ole e pono ai ka noho ana.
[Top Right - The Story of Kānei'olouma - English]
The Story of Kanei'olouma
General Orientation
Ke Kahua 'o Kānei'olouma (The Kānei'olouma Complex) is a cultural site containing the remnants of an ancient Hawaiian multi-purpose complex here at Po'ipū, Kōloa, Kaua'i. This 13-acre complex, designated by the County of Kaua'i and Ni'ihau, as the Po'ipu Beach Ma Uka ("Inland") Preserve, contains enclosed sections or chambers for habitation, cultivation, sporting or assembly, and religious gathering purposes, and it dates to the mid-1400s.
Wahi Pana and Heiau
Kānei'olouma is a wahi pana, a site that has stories and a specific name attached with historical significance. Parts of the complex are heiau: sacred gathering sites for religious worship, while other parts provide infrastructure for habitation. Kānei'olouma is a historic landmark for the residents of Kaua'i - a symbol of the complexity of a highly structured, centuries-old Polynesian society established here on Kaua'i. The complex, with its intricate system of walls and terraces, demonstrates the architectural and engineering feats achieved by the people who called this place home for hundreds of years.
Chambers and Arenas
The complex also consists of remnants of long-term dwelling sites, fishponds (an engineering feat unique to the Hawaiian Islands), taro patches, above-ground aqueducts and ground-level irrigation ditches, and religious shrines, altars, and platforms for idols. These structures have been left relatively undisturbed since their construction. In the vicinity are the sites where epic battles were fought and profound and lasting peace negotiated - events preserved in story, oratory, and chants.
The largest section of the complex contains a significant chamber or arena, situated in a natural amphitheater where makahiki related events - sporting events associated with the winter season - were held. The arena also contains a natural spring and has sectioned-off viewing areas around the perimeter.
Hui Mālama o Kānei'olouma
Members of the group Hui Mālama o Kānei'olouma have been the caretakers of the grounds of the Kānei'olouma Complex during the first decade of the 21st century. The group has an enduring vision and mission to protect, restore, interpret, and share Kānei'olouma as a public cultural preserve and resource. Cultural experts are recruited from various Hawaiian disciplines to work together assisting in this endeavor.
Under a stewardship agreement signed in August of 2010, the County of Kaua'i granted formal custodianship of Kānei'olouma to Hui Mālama o Kānei'olouma. Confirming the importance of the restoration and preservation of Kānei'olouma for all of Kaua'i, the project was included in Mayor Bernard Carvalho's Holo Holo 2020 vision.
Hui Mālama o Kānei'olohuma was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit stewardship organization in 2009. Please see the website: kaneiolouma.org
"This particular place, Kānei'olouma, is a very special spiritual sacred place here on our island... As mayor I made a commitment to this place to preserve it and to encourage others on our island to come and support this effort." - Mayor Bernard Carvalho, 2010
What you have is more important than a heiau..." - Kenneth Emory, 1951
"Let this great work begin at Kaloa." - Henry Kekahuna, 1959
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 2010.
Location. 21° 52.58′ N, 159° 27.194′ W. Marker is in Koloa, Hawaii, in Kauai County. It is in Poipu. It is on Poipu Road east of Hoowili Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2199 Poipu Rd, Koloa HI 96756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in North America, Polynesia, the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ka Moolelo O Kauai / The Heritage of Kaua'i (a few steps from this marker); Kilo Lani / Charting The Stars (a few steps from this marker); Poipū Beach Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kihāhouna Heiau (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hapa Road (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pāū a Laka (Moir Gardens) (approx. 0.4 miles away); Puuwanawana Volcanic Cone (approx. half a mile away); Keoneloa Bay (approx. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Koloa.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 66 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 10, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
