Wailua River State Park and the Wailua Complex of Heiaus, which it includes, are located on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The park consists primarily of the Wailua River valley, which is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Visitors to this park can kayak, take riverboat cruises and explore the rainforest. Even motorboats and water skiing are permissible on the river.
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Wailua Complex of Heiaus
The Wailua Complex, a National Historic Landmark, was once the center of chiefly power on the island. It contains the remains of several important structures: places of worship (heiau), places of refuge (pu?uhonua), and sites related to royal births. The most important sites are:
- Hikinaakal? (Rising of the Sun) Heiau, which includes the Hauola place of refuge (pu?uhonua) and the Ki?i P?haku ancient petroglyphs, at the mouth of the river adjacent to Lydgate State Park
- Malae, also known as Malaea or Makaukiu or Mana Heiau, a huge, rectangular luakini heiau almost 400 feet long on the south side of the river just above Highway 56
- Holoholok? Heiau, also known as Kalaeokamanu, adjacent to the p?haku ho?oh?nau (birthing stone) and p?haku piko (navel/umbilical stone), where women of high rank would give birth and bury their afterbirth and umbilical cords
- Poli?ahu (also spelled Poliahu) Heiau, a large luakini heiau high on the narrow ridge between ??paeka?a Stream and Wailua River
- Bellstone (on the same ridge), used to announce important events, such as royal births
Of these, only Holoholok? has been largely restored.
Heiau images
Wailua Kayak Video
History
Wailua was the land of the ali'i (kings) and was one of the largest ahupua?a (subdivisions) on Kauai. It is said that King Kaumuali'i's favorite place to live was in Wailua. There are Hawaiian heiaus starting from the mouth of the river all the way to the summit of Mt.Waialeale. The huaka'i po (Ghost Warriors) are said to walk ancient trails along the river at night up to Mount Wai?ale?ale. Wailua has many legends about it and was once home to many Hawaiians.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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