Post #538530 by coconuttzo on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 2:29 PM

Almost forgot to post these pics of the heiau next to tthe beach where our canoe regatta was being held. It was a rainy weekend & on this side(leeward coast) it rarely rains so the lighting isn't all that great.

Upon this great stone paepae(platform) stood ‘Ahu’ena Heiau, rebuilt by Kamehameha the Great as his heiau(temple) of the Hale O Lono(House of Lono), type. Dedicated to the god of peace & prosperity. Help from the gods for the King & his people was invoked at this site through the appropriate rituals & food sacrifices. ‘Ahu’ena was not a place of human sacrifice. It was actually the center of the Hawaiian capitol between 1812 to 1819 when Kailua Kona was the capitol of Hawaii.

Hale Mana - House of Spiritual Power(large house) was a place of prayer, a meeting house for discussing the kingdom’s affairs, and the school where the king educated his heir, Liholiho in matters pertaining to wise government. Here the prince received lectures from the leading kahuna(masters) of the arts, crafts, sciences, history & religion. The structure was of strong poles thatched with ti leaves & trimmed with fern. The interior walls were covered with silky banana-stalk sheathing. Soft mats covered the floor, around a fireplace for roasting bananas.

Hale Pahu - house of the drum(little A-framed structure left side) sheltered the great ceremonial drum of the temple. The structure is thatched with hala(pandanus) leaves.

‘Anu’u(white tall structure) has been often referred to as the oracle tower, because here the high priest received & proclaimed the answer of the gods to his petitions. This tower was the most distinctive feature of the temples of ruling chiefs & somewhat comparable to the steeples of churches.
Lele(right side out of fenceline, post beams)were stands where offerings were presented to the gods.

Ki’I Akua(temple images/tikis) symbolized the presence of helpful gods who were ancestral to the worshippers. To visiting Europeans, Kamehameha once said: “These are my gods. Whether I do right or wrong(by European definition)I do not know. But I follow my faith, which cannot be wicked, as it commands me never to do wrong.” Carved with great virtuosity, Ki’i Akua of the distinctive Kona style are regarded as among the finest of all Polynesian art forms. The tallest figure, crowned with an image of a golden plover, was Koleamoku, a god of healing.

One guy would climb up this ladder with a stick about 6' long which was draped with ti leaves that had been boiled & then soaked in the ocean for a couple days.

Then these 2 fellas would lash the thatched panel(stick) to the the roof framework/scaffolding.