Post #268542 by WenikiTiki on Fri, Nov 24, 2006 9:23 AM

On 2006-11-21 21:39, christiki295 wrote:

On 2006-11-21 08:32, procinema29 wrote:
They were spread out over several, actually. I believe the heiau was on...Maui?

Funny. One typically associates such correlation with the land with the Big Island and Pele, but not any of the other islands.

Here is how a local Realtor defines a Heiau (A temple built by menehunes, mythical Hawaiian elves). Funny! I took a real estate class here in Hawaii and the explanation of the Heiau's was that the land was divided into pie shaped wedges from mountain top to oceanside, and each clan was given one of these sections of land. The theory being that by having a range of land they could have all the farming and fishing needs met. The Heiaus were often built on the mountain top portions of these land divisions. So there could very well be thousands of them. Except for them all being burned when the Islands went Christain....

We have 3 such spots here in Haiku Plantations, the subdivision where I live. As I did my research on buying this property I was careful to buy land not anywhere near one of them! A decision that has turned out to be very right. The Heiaus have access rights, and one group is currently building a road through the yards of 4 property owners, completely destroying beautiful landscaping and I'm sure killing their property value. And the Heiau owners have that legal right. Since these became deeded properties at some point, and are protected as registered historic sites, many are now owned by 40-50 people. Because who would sign over an inheritance of a site so important to their ancestors? And with each generation more people become owners. I don't believe these sites are used as temples any more, though. They are used as picnic/camping grounds. Every weekend many of the owners show up and party all weekend. Because there aren't many good camping spots on this island! (Oahu!)