Hill of the Whale - Pu'u Kohola

"Temple on the Hill of the Whale" (Pu'u Kohola)

One off the many impressive things we experienced on our Kohala District "holoholo" (walk-ride-about) in June was a docent led tour of Pu'u Kohola Heiau, one of the last major temples built in the Hawaiian Islands.  

This massive structure was constructed under the direct supervision of Kamehameha the Great from 1790 to 1791 as he became the first person to unite the warring islands into the Kingdom of Hawai’i. (This occurred at the same time that George Washington was serving as the our new nation’s first president.) Annual ceremonies and celebrations are conducted here following very strict protocol that includes songs, dances, chants and reenactments. 

Places we visited  in Kohala District on our "holoholo"

Adjacent to this gigantic structure (but not pictured here) are two additional temples (heiau.) Hundreds of years older, one is now submerged off the coast, and the other (at the base of Pu'u Kohola) is called Mailekini Heiau. Little is known about these two additional structures -- but the historical/cultural significance is the obvious link for the building which occurred during King Kamehameha's reign.

We also visited the valley where the rocks that built this structure were found -- the beautiful and distant Pololu Valley. Forming a human chain nearly 25 miles long, the laborers handed the required water-worn lava rocks one person to another up and over Kohala Mountain to this site. Estimates suggest that over 10,000 people were involved including all those who provided food, built lodging and assisted. Without the use of mortar, cement or other bonding materials, these skilled laborers placed these rocks in exact locations in order to meet specific building specifications received through a priest/kahuna.  

If you are interested, you can learn more through this LINK. To learn more...