Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument
Encyclopedia
Puu o Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site on the North Shore
of Oahu
is the largest heiau
on the island, covering 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) on a hilltop overlooking Waimea Bay
and Waimea Valley. Puu o Mahuka means 'Hill of Escape'. From its commanding heights, sentries could once monitor much of the northern shoreline of Oahu, and even spot signal fires from the Wailua Complex of Heiaus on Kauai
, with which it had ties. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1962, when it became the center of a 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) State park
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1966.
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 Oahu
, 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 sacrifice
s. After Kamehameha I
conquered Oahu 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.
The site can be reached from Pupukea Homestead Road (Highway 835), which starts at Kamehameha Highway
(Highway 83) across from Pupukea fire station.
North Shore (Oahu)
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oahu between Kaena Point and Kahuku Point...
of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
is the largest heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
on the island, covering 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) on a hilltop overlooking Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay, Hawaii
Waimea Bay is located in Haleiwa on the North Shore of O‘ahu in the Hawaiian Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River. Waimea Valley extends behind Waimea Bay. Waimea means "Red Water" in Hawaiian.-History:...
and Waimea Valley. Puu o Mahuka means 'Hill of Escape'. From its commanding heights, sentries could once monitor much of the northern shoreline of Oahu, and even spot signal fires from the Wailua Complex of Heiaus on Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, with which it had ties. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1962, when it became the center of a 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) State park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1966.
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
Luakini
In ancient Hawai'i, a luakini temple, or luakini heiau, was a Native Hawaiian sacred place where human and animal blood sacrifices were offered....
(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 Oahu
Alii Aimoku of Oahu
The Alii Aimoku was the sovereign king or queen of one of the four main Hawaiian Islands. The monarchs of island Oahu, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wakea. Nanaulu, a fourteenth generation descendant of Wakea was the ancestor of Kumuhonua, 1st known King of Oahu,...
, Kahāhana
Kahahana
Kahahana was the 22nd Alii Aimoku of Oahu and Alii Aimoku of Molokai. He ruled the island of Oahu and its tributary, the island of Molokai, from 1773 until his death in 1783. He was elected by the Oahu nobility to succeed Kumahana as Moi of Oahu. This was the second king to be elected to succeed...
. In 1792, George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
's ship, HMS Daedalus
HMS Daedalus
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent was one of the primary shore airfields of the Fleet Air Arm. First established as a seaplane base in 1917 during the First World War, it later became the main training establishment and administrative centre of the Fleet Air Arm...
, anchored near Waimea Bay to collect water. Three men in his shore party were killed in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
, and may have been taken to the heiau as human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
s. After Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
conquered Oahu in 1795, his high priest Hewahewa led religious ceremonies here and the heiau remained in use until the traditional kapu
Kapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
system was abolished in 1819.
The site can be reached from Pupukea Homestead Road (Highway 835), which starts at Kamehameha Highway
Kamehameha Highway
Kamehameha Highway is one of the main highways serving suburban and rural O‘ahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Starting from Nimitz Highway near Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, it serves the island's older western suburbs, turning north across the O‘ahu Central Valley to the...
(Highway 83) across from Pupukea fire station.