Pu'ukohola Heiau

Early in our visit, we stopped by the Pu'ukohola Heiau, which has one of the last major sacred structures built in Hawaii before outside influence altered traditional life. Below is the Hawaiian state flag.

 This heiau was finished in 1791 with warriors bringing volcanic debris to make the structure. No mortar was used - instead the walls slant inward and spaces are filled with smaller pebbles.

 A bit of Hawaiian language, showing King Kamehameah uprighting an impossibly heavy rock.

 So Melinda tried it. So did I but I hurt my back ...

 This is one of the weapons of war: a wooden pahoa with sharks teeth. Just imagine that buried in your skull *shudder*.