Places on Kauai: Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau

Basic Information

• Name: Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau
• Where: Poipu, Kauai
• Cost: Free
• Hours: Anytime
• More Information: Ancient Sites of Kauai

Directions

From Lihue take the Kaumualii Highway west until it reaches Highway 520.  Take Highway 520, also called Maluhia Road, south towards the small village of Koloa.  In Koloa make a right and then an immediate left on to Poipu Road.  Follow Poipu Road south until it reaches a traffic circle.  At the traffic circle stay on Poipu Road.  Follow the road until it gets to Hoowili Road.  Make a right hand turn there and the temple complex will be visible on the left.

Parking

Parking for Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau is located along Hoowili Road if you can find a spot.  If not just go to the parking lot adjacent to Brennecke’s Beach Broiler.  Since the heiau is located so close Poipu Beach Park, parking can be challenging at times.

Hawaiian Meaning

According to the book, “Place Names of Hawaii” the words “Kahua O Kaneiolouma” means “Kane who drove and perished” or the “Foundation of Kane“.  Kane is one of the traditional Hawaiian gods.

Narrative

A unique cultural site located a short walk from the popular Poipu Beach Park, is Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau temple complex.  The site is quite large and was once a traditional Hawaiian village and agricultural area.  In the middle of the agricultural area there is a fresh water spring called Wai’ohai that watered the crops.  The word “Wai’ohai” means in Hawaiian “water for a native shrub”.  The water from this spring can still be seen today:

Because of the spring and the agriculture that once occurred in this area, the Hawaiian temple known as a heiau was constructed to the God of fresh water named Kane.  What is unusual about this cultural site, compared to others I have seen in Hawaii, is how large it is.  It is so large because not only was a temple constructed here, but a number of homes and other structures were built here as well on raised rock terraces:

I even saw this alter that people appeared to be leaving modern day offerings on:

Due to the cultural significance of the site there are signs asking visitors to not disturb it:

On one corner of the site there is a large viewing platform marked with large tikis that represent the four main Gods of traditional Hawaiian culture that includes Kane:

Here is a closer look at the tikis that looked so much like ones I saw from their Polynesian cousins in New Zealand:

The lookout also had a number of informative signboards written in Hawaiian and English for visitors to learn more about the site:

Below is a closer look at one of the signboards that shows an aerial view of the Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau site that was once a fully functioning community up until the early 1800’s when King Kamehameha II banned the traditional Hawaiian religion and ordered all religious sites destroyed:

Another interesting fact about the complex is that it is one of the few historical sites that still has the remains of a Hawaiian sporting field called a “Kahua“.  The pool of water seen in the below picture is where the field was located at.  Here athletes competed against each other in honor of the Gods:

Conclusion

For people who like to explore Hawaii’s cultural past, Kahua O Kaneiolouma Heiau is a must see location.  It is very large and has many interesting features from its past still visible.  Even those that don’t get excited by Hawaiian history can still find a great photo opportunity being pictured with the large tikis located at the site.  Considering it is located so close to Poipu Beach Park it is a pretty easy place for people staying in Poipu to visit.  So check it out if you are in the area.