Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

Pu'ukohola Heiau, the Temple on the Hill of the Whale, is the last major temple built in ancient Hawaii. Kamehameha raised it in 1790-91 after a prophecy that honoring the war god Ku here would let him unite the islands, which he did by 1810. The massive stone platform stands above the older Mailekini Heiau and the submerged shark heiau Hale o Kapuni.

Walk the interpretive trail past the great temple platform and watch for sharks cruising offshore. For a challenge, walk the full trail past both temples and the John Young homestead site for the complete story.