Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Located in Honaunau, Hawaii
400x240
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Hale o Keawe Heiau (Temple), left of the two figures, is a reconstruction of the original that served as a temple mausoleum and housed the bones of 23 chiefs. It is believed that the mana (spiritual power) in the chiefs' bones gave additional protection to the place of refuge. Food offerings were placed on the lele (raised platform).
The Great Wall, left of the temple, has large stones fitted together like a jig-saw puzzle in the dry masonry work. The Hawaiians probably used wooden rollers and levers of logs to get the huge stones in position. Built sometime in the mid-1500s, this wall separates the palace grounds from the pu`uhonua (sanctuary). Although repaired twice, this is the original wall.
This place was a sanctuary that provided the people with a second chance - a second chance for life itself. Some people were kapu breakers - those who had broken the sacred laws, or kapu. A kapu breaker was pursued until he was caught and put to death - or until he reached a pu`uhonua. If he did reach a pu`uhonua, a ceremony of absolution was performed by the kahuna pule (priest), and the offender could then return home safely, usually within a few hours or by the next morning. Others who sought refuge here were the noncombatants during a battle. Defeated warriors also came to the pu`uhonua, where they could wait in safety until the battle was over. Their allegiance would then be to the victor, and their life could go on.
Shoreline sections of the park were closed due to winter surf conditions (if you look closely you may see a barricade behind the figures). Honaunau Bay to the right of the figures is a very popular snorkeling and dive spot with lots of tropical fish. Photographed with a Canon 20mm lens, Fujicolor 400 film. Kaidan Kiwi pano head, Bogen tripod, spun with Nodester on a Power Macintosh G3.