Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau, North Shore, O'ahu

A Sacred Place (sign) contents:

"The decision to construct or change a luakini heiau (temple) was made by the ruler (mo'i).  A heiau might be built to honor the gods of peace and fertility (mapele heiau) and could be altered and rededicated to the gods of war (luakini heiau).  This was a place of great mana (power) that was passed from na akua (the gods) to the kanaka maoli (people).

The gods were honored with various ho'okupu (offerings) and pule (prayers).  These ho'olupu might incude banana, kalo (taro), pig, and fish.

Each November, the rising of the Maka'i'i (Pleiades) at Ka'ena Point can be observed from the heiau.  The rising marked the start of the Makahiki season, a time of peace that lasted four months.  During this time, this heiau did not function as a luakini heiau.

The four major Hawaiian gods each have a kinolau or form that was symbolized at the heiau.  The carved wooden temple images (ki'i) reflect styles introduced to O'ahu from [Hawaii] Island in the late 1780's by Kamehameha I.

Kanaloa - god of the ocean who is associated with death and [?] by the he'e (octopus).  Kane, Creator of all Things who is represented by the upright phallic stone.  Ku - God of War, both a builder and a destroyer, who is represented by a wide-mouth ki'i (wooden image).  Lono, God of Fertility, Peace and Medicine, who is represented by another ki'i form.  Lono presided over the Makahiki Season."