From the northern shore of Kauai to the southern tip of the Big Island, the Hawaiian Islands are home to big cities and growing communities as well as tiny towns and ancient villages. And while we love Honolulu, Kailua-Kona, and Lahaina as much as the next person, it is in the state’s smallest towns and villages that we get a true glimpse into Hawaii’s unique history. Take, for example, Ke Kahua O Kāneiolouma, a cultural site in the process of restoration that holds the remnants of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village that dates back to the mid-1400s.
Nestled near Kauai’s southern shore, this 13-acre complex contains numerous habitation, cultivation, assembly, sporting, and religious structures dating back hundreds of years. This storied landmark is not only considered sacred in Hawaiian culture but it is an important historic landmark for the people of Kauai.
Within the complex, you will find an intricate system of walls and terraces that give us a glimpse into another era. Remnants of fishponds, taro fields, irrigation channels, house sites, shrines, altars, and idol sites lie relatively undisturbed near battle sites, serving as a backdrop to historic legends that span a millennium.
But that’s not all — near the center of the complex, you will find what may be the only intact Makahiki sporting arena in the state as well as the sacred spring of Waiohai.
Dating back to the fifteenth century, Ke Kahua O Kāneiolouma was once a thriving fishing village, and the 13 acres of county land on which it sits are all that remains of a massive complex of agricultural and habitation sites. This highly-sophisticated society prospered for centuries before it was abandoned in the early nineteenth century.
Unfortunately, after the village was abandoned, it was quickly forgotten throughout the years and saw the disastrous effects of neglect. Vandals stole rocks from the heiau, trash piled up, and changes to the surrounding landscapes caused damage. That is, until a group of residents, decided to fight for the land and its history.
The site is currently undergoing an extensive four-phase restoration that has been in the works for more than a decade. Once completed, it will be a cultural center for native Hawaiians as well as an educational resource for both Kauai residents and the world.
The only area of Ke Kahua O Kāneiolouma currently open to the public is a viewing platform complete with interpretive signs n8ear Poipu Road. To learn more about the restoration of this sacred site and what it means for native Hawaiians, click here.
If you’d like to visit an ancient Hawaiian village for yourself before the restoration is complete at Ke Kahua O Kāneiolouma, check out this fishing village on Kauai only accessible via boat.
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