A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

About 6,000 years ago and before the arrival of
the Hawaiians, Kawai Nui and Ka'elepulu were bays
connected to the ocean and extended a mile inland of
the present coastline. This saltwater environment isindicated by inland deposits of sand and coral.

ULUPŌ HEIAU
STATE MONUMENT
Ulupō Heiau was transferred from the Territorial
Board of Agriculture and Forestry to Territorial Parks
in 1954. In the early 1960s, through a joint effort ofState Parks and Kane'ohe Ranch, the stone walkway
was placed atop the heiau and the stone paving waslaid around the springs. The bronze plaque wasinstalled in 1962 by the Commission on Historical
Sites. Ulupō Heiau is listed on the National andHawaii Registers of Historic Places. At Ulupō Heiau,State Parks seeks to promote preservation of theheiau and heighten public awareness about thecultural history of Kawai Nui.

ULUPO
HEIAU
State Monument
Kailua, O'ahu

STATE OF HAWAI'I
Department of Land andNatural Resources Divisionof State Parks

6,000 Years Ago

A sand bar began forming across Kawai Nui
Bay around 2,500 years ago creating Kawai Nui
Lagoon filled with coral, fish, and shellfish. TheHawaiians probably first settled along the fringes ofthis lagoon. Gradually, erosion of the hillsides
surrounding Kawai Nui began to fill in the lagoon
with sediments. By 200 years ago, the Hawaiians
converted Kawai Nui into a large fishpond with anabundance of fat mullet and large o 'opu. Kalo fields
were cultivated along the streams and fishponds.

Special recognition is given tothe Kailua Hawaiian Civic Clubfor their hard work anddedication as the curators of
Ulupo Heiau.
The Windward YMCA isacknowledgedfortheircooperation with the public
visitation and interpretation ofUlupo Heiau.

PRESERVE HAWAI'I'S PAST FOR THE
FUTURE
Traditionally, food items
were left as offerings at aheiau. Please do not
wrap or move rocks anddo not leave items suchas coins, incense, orcandles as they cause
long-term damage to thisfragile resource.

� Kalo

LJ Sand Bai-

Artwork by Telford Cazimero and Graphic
House Revised 10/97

Artist's rendering of Ulupo Helau as It may have looked In 1750.

State of Hawai‘iDepartment of Land & Natural Resources

DIVISION OF STATE PARKS

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/

HISTORIC CHANGESIn the 1880s. Chinese farmers converted the kalo
fields of Kawai Nui to rice. Cattle grazed throughout
much of Kawai Nui and a large cattle pen was built
atop Ulupō Heiau in the early 1900s. The cattle
probably hastened the collapse of the rock faced
terraces on the steep faces of the heiau platform.
The marsh began forming around 1920 when
the rice fields and fishpond were abandoned andsiltation followed. Today, the marsh is a habitat forThew at erbirds.
endangered
Hawai'i's
agricultural terraces and fishpond are now coveredwith silt. grasses. and bullrushes.

It's 1750. Kailua is the political seat of power forthe district of Ko'olaupoko and a favored place of theO'ahu chiefs for its abundance of fish and good
canoe landings. The houses of the ali'i (chiefs), theirfamilies. and their attendants surround Kailua Bay.
Behind the sand beach is the large, fertile expanseof Kawai Nui which has been converted to a
fishpond surrounded by an agricultural fieldsystem. Kawai Nui is a large 400 acre fishpond with
an abundance of mullet, awa and o'opu.
Ka'elepulu and Nu'upia fishponds are nearby. Themaka'ainana (commoners) provide support for thischiefly residence. Farmers grew kalo (taro) in theirrigated lo'i (fields) along the streams fromMaunawili and along the edges of the fishponds.
Crops of dryland kalo, banana, sweet potato, andsugarcane mark the fringes of the marsh. Thefishermen harvest fish from the fishponds and the sea.
The kāhuna (priests) oversee the religious ceremonies
and rites at several heiau around Kawai Nui. There isUlupō Heiau on the east with Pahukini Heiau andHolomakani Heiau on the west side.
Hauwahine, the mo'o or guardian spirit,protects the people of Kawai Nui and assures anabundance of fish. The legendary association ofUlupō Heiau with the menehune suggests theantiquity of this site. The massiveness and quantityof rock carried many miles hint at its culturalimportance. Tradition records Kualoa, more than
10 miles away, as one source of these stones.

Ali'i and kāhuna overseeing Ute construction of features at Ulupō Heiau.

It is likely that the function of this heiau
changed over time. It probably began as a mapele oragricultural heiau with ceremonies and rites
conducted to insure the fertility of the crops grown in
Kawai Nui. In later times, it may have become aluakini heiau dedicated to success in war withstructures erected atop this massive stone platform,
including an altar, an oracle tower or anu'u,
thatched hale, and notches in the terraces to hold theki 'i or wooden images. The spring off the corner of theheiau was another important feature related to theceremonial traditions of the site.
Ulupō Heiau measures 140 by 180 feet with wallsup to 30 feet in height. The construction of this massive
terraced platform required a large work force under
the direction of a powerful ali'i. Several O'a hu c hiefs
lived at Kailua and probably particip ated in
ceremonies at Ulupo Heiau. including Kakuhihewa
in the 1400s and Kuali'i in the late 1600s. Kuali'ifought many battles and he may have rededicatedUlupō Heiau as a luakini heiau. Maui chief Kahekili
came to O'ahu in the 1 780s and lived in Kailua after
defeating O'ahu high chief Kahahana for control ofO'ahu. Kamehameha I worked at Kawai Nui fishpondand is said to have eaten the edible mud (lepo 'ai) ofKawai Nui when there was a shortage of kalo. Butby 1795 when Kamehameha I conquered O'ahu, it isbelieved that Ulupō Heiau was already abandoned.

Placement of rocks to terrace the heiau platform.

Today, Ulupō Heiau remains a sacred site for theHawaiian people. Show respect as you visit thisspecial place. Please stay on designated trails asrocks are loose and unstable.