Luakini
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In ancient Hawai'i, a luakini temple, or luakini heiau, was a Native Hawaiian sacred place where human and animal blood sacrifices were offered.
In Hawaiian mythology, luakini heiaus were first established by Pa'ao, a legendary priest credited with establishing many of the rites and symbols typical of the stratified high chieftainships of the immediate pre-European-contact period. Modern archaeologists no longer believe in a historic Pa'ao, but many Native Hawaiians still believe that he was a historical figure, and often vilify him for introducing what they now see as the bloody, barbarous rites of the luakini heiau.
List of currently known or reputed luakini heiaus:
- Puʻu O Mahuka, "Hill of Escape"
- Keaiwa
Maui:
- Puʻukohola National Historic Site
- Moʻokini birthplace of Kamehameha I[1]
- Aha'ula (now engulfed by lava)
- Keʻeku Heiau on Kahaluʻu Bay[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Van James, Ancient Sites of Hawaiʻi, 1995, Mutual Publishing, ISBN 978-1566472005, page 143
- ^ "Hoʻihoʻi Kulana Wahi pana - Restoring Sacred Places". Kamehameha Investment Corporation. 2008. http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pdfs/kic_brochure.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
