WAILUA AHUPUA‘AWAILUA COMPLEX OF HEIAUThe Wailua ahupua‘a (traditional land division) ranfrom Mt. Waiale‘ale to Wailua Bay. The Wailua River runs
the length of the ahupua‘a for a distance of 11.8 miles. Theridges of Nounou and Kälepa divide the ahupua‘a into themakai (seaward) portion called Wailua Kai and the mauka(upland) portion called Wailua Uka.
Wailuanuiahoano, translated as the great, sacredWailua, refers to the lower portion of the Wailua Riverbasin and is named for an ali‘i who lived in the 14thCentury.

The Wailua Complex of Heiau was designateda National Historic Landmark in 1962. Consisting ofPoli‘ahu Heiau, Hikinaakalä Heiau, Kalaeokamanu Heiau,and Malae Heiau, these heiau denote the religious andsocial significance of the Wailua ahupua‘a to the history
and culture of both Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i. Other sites within
this historic complex are the royal birthsite at Holoholokü,
the petroglyphs at the rivermouth, and the bellstone.
Wailua River State Park was initially establishedin 1954 in recognition of the outstanding scenic andwilderness character of the Wailua River along with thesignificant historical, archaeological, geological and otherscientific values. The heiau sites were included in the parkin 1962 to promote preservation and public awareness ofthese important cultural resources.

POLI‘AHU
HEIAU
WAILUA COMPLEXSTATE OF HAWAI‘I
Department of Land &Natural Resources
Division of State Parks

Special recognition is given
to Nä Kahu Hikina A Ka
Lä, a community volunteer
group, for their hard workand dedication as thecurators of Poli‘ahu Heiau.

PRESERVE HAWAI‘I'S PASTFOR THE FUTURE

Artwork by Frank Fellhauer

A

10/97

AWAITEKSHI

Traditionally, food items
were left as offerings at aheiau. Please do not wrap
or move rocks and do notleave items such as coins,incense, or candles as theycause long‐term damage
to this fragile resource.

STWailua and Waimea were the two royal centers on
Kaua‘i prior to Western contact. These royal centerswere the political, religious, and social centers for Kaua‘i's
paramount chiefs (ali‘i nui) who resided at these sites formuch of the year. Certain areas, such as the heiau, were set
aside exclusively for the ali‘i and priests. The maka‘äinana(commoners) supported this royal compound by farming
the agricultural fields along the river, harvesting the inland
fishpond, and fishing the ocean waters of Wailua Bay.
The traditional Hawaiian religion was abolished in
1819 and missionaries arrived in 1820. Debora Kapule,
former wife of Kaua‘i's king Kaumuali‘i, was an early
convert to Christianity. When she lived in Wailua in 1830s,
she is said to have used some heiau as animal pens.
Today, these heiau are important reminders ofHawai‘i's past and a valuable link for the Hawaiian
community to their cultural heritage.

PAR

Wailua River State Park
Kaua‘iLUAKINI HEIAU
No two heiau were constructed alike but there arecertain features that are common to all luakini heiau.
Within the walls of Poli‘ahu Heiau would be several
features built of perishable materials, such as wood andpili grass. These structures were destroyed when the
traditional Hawaiian religion was abolished in 1819.
Today, only the stacked rock walls and stone foundations
remain.
ANU‘U or LANANU‘U MAMAO
Oracle tower where the kähuna
communicated with the gods. Thisstructure often measured 20 feet ormore in height and was a pole frame
covered with kapa.
LELE ALTARThis raised wooden platform waswhere the offerings for the gods
were placed.

Artist's rendering of Poli‘ahu Heiau as it may have looked
as a luakini heiau in the 1700s.

Poli‘ahu Heiau is situated on a bluff above theWailua River with commanding views makai (seaward) toWailua Bay and mauka (inland) to the ridges of Nounou
and Kälepa and the peak called ‘A‘ähoaka. This is oneof 7 heiau recorded along the Wailua River.
It is uncertain when this heiau was built but basedon historical traditions, its construction is attributed
to the menehune which suggests some antiquity. It wasprobably in use during the 1600s and 1700s but may beolder. Oftentimes, heiau were modified and enlarged by
new ali‘i (chiefs) when they came to power.
The walls enclose just over an acre and are
constructed by locking the stacked rocks with no use ofmortar. The walls, measuring 5 feet high and 5 feet wide,
still show the craftsmanship of these rock wall builders.
Rock was brought up to this bluff by many hands fromthe rivers below. The rock was used to build these walls
and pave the interior floor. An interesting feature of thisheiau is the notched corner along the east wall whichappears to be a later construction.
A large, complex heiau such as Poliçahu would
have been built under the direction of an ali‘i nui (highruling chief) in consultation with his kähuna (priests).
The gathering and stacking of the rock was done by
the maka‘äinana (commoners) who took time from theirfarming and fishing to built these sites.

RELIGIOUS SITE
The function of heiau could change over time. Someheiau were dedicated to the god Lono and ceremonies
were conducted to insure fertility of crops and fishinggrounds. Other heiau were dedicated to the god Kü forsuccess in war. These were called luakini heiau and could
involve human sacrifice as well as offerings of pig andfish.
Because of the size and construction of Poli‘ahu
Heiau, it has been suggested that this heiau was a luakini.
As a luakini there would have been a number of perishable
structures placed within the walled enclosure, including
carved wooden ki‘i (images) and pole and thatch hale(houses) to store ceremonial items.
The size and location of these luakini heiau conveyed
a sense of ali‘i power and authority. They illustrate thedevelopment of complex chiefdoms in Hawai‘i in the latepre-contact period (1600‐1778) and the close relationshipbetween the political and religious systems. It was only
the paramount chiefs (ali‘i nui) with the highest politicaland social status that could built these large, impressive
heiau and command the large labor force needed for sucha project.

HALE MANA
The ceremonial items werestored in this pole andthatch house where thekahuna might also reside forshort periods.
HALE PAHU
This structure housed the sacreddrum (pahu) that announced therituals and sent messages.
HALE UMU
This is were the temple fires
were lit. These fires might
be used to cook the pigs asofferings.

KI‘I
The wooden images (ki‘i) wereplaced by the altar and at theentrance to oversee the site.