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Kealakowaa
Heiau
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PHOTOS |
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Click on a thumbnail to
see a larger version of the photo |
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OVERVIEW |
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Under
preservation next to the Kona Outdoor Circle
Educational Center lies the historic
Kealakowa'a ("the way for dragging canoes")
heiau. This ritual site, built in the
1600's in the time of King Umi, was used for
blessing canoes and can be seen from both
the highway and the Center's parking lot.
The 1.5 acre area contains a group of
platforms including a heiau for the high
priest to officiate, an astrological temple
to study omens and navigational stars, the
foundation of the high priest's house, and
the foundation of a house in which were held
council meetings of the seers and chiegs.
The sacred site is positioned along an
ancient trail that led from the upland
forests of acacia trees on Mt. Hualalai down
to the Pacific Ocean at Holualoa Bay. After
a propitious tree was selected and felled in
the forest, the log was hewn into the shape
of a canoe and then dragged down to the
heiau for blessing ceremonies. From there
it was dragged on down to the water for
completion and launching.
The Polynesians were master canoe builders
and supreme navigators, and thus they were
able to survive the lengthy voyages required
for their early migrations. The canoe was a
focal point of their life and customs. The
canoe gave them access to the ocean near
their shores and the world beyond. The
canoe was an "ancestral space ship" and
their choices of clothing, food sources,
plants and animals, rituals and astronomy
were all influenced by the presence of the
canoe in the culture. More information
about the early Hawaiians is available in
the Historic Kealakowa'a Heiau Preservation
Council office located in the Kona Outdoor
Circle Educational Center building.
Future projects include a canoe shed on the
site where canoe-making demonstrations can
be staged for school children and other
visitors. These projects will further KOC's
vision to make the heiau a community
resource and to retain the quality of the
area around the heiau, consistent with its
history as a once very lively and vital
site. |
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DIRECTIONS |
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http://kealakowaa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=35&Itemid=53 |
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WEBSITE |
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http://kealakowaa.org/ |
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