Show Respect to the Sacred Sites of Hawaii

Aside from its sun-kissed beaches, Hawaii is also home to several sacred places that have considerable historical as well as cultural importance. Plenty of these sacred sites bore witness to essential historic Hawaiian events like births of kings, human sacrifices, and other key events that happened in the past. These days, Hawaii locals believe that these sacred spots are truly a significant element of their rich culture and they are always respectful whenever they drop by these sites. Tourists should also show respect when they are visiting a Hawaiian sacred place and they should always abide by a few simple rules. The rules for each site are typically explained on a large sign located close to the sacred spot. Some normal rules include not climbing or stepping on the site as well as not making any noise and not removing or moving any items in the place.

On the Big Island, the Puu Loa Petroglyphs is believed to be holy grounds among the locals for this is where the Hawaiian fathers go to set down their babies’ umbilical cords to wish them a long life. This wide petroglyph land could be reached by travelers via a hike from the Chain of Craters Road. Kauai is home to a sacred place called the Wailua River State Park. This is thought of as among the most important cultural places of the state because this park has a lot of historical treasures that vary from early Hawaiian art to some temple ruins.

One of Lanai’s most sacred spots is the Halulu Heiau. This heiau is known as the preferred fishing site of King Kamehameha and for that reason, he constructed a temple here. The Halulu Heiau is among the ultimate sacred temples erected in Hawaii before the missionaries arrived in the state. The Piilanihale Heiau is a sacred place in Maui and it is a part of the celebrated Kahanu Garden. The Piilanihale Heiau is declared as a National Historic Landmark and it is also acknowledged as the biggest ancient temple in the entire Polynesian region. There are large and impressive lava rock terraces found in this heiau that were put up in the 13^th century.

The Halawa Valley is a sacred site found in Molokai. This valley is the spot where a lot of people lived and labored in the fields back in the olden times. There are also numerous ancient temples that tourists could visit here. On Oahu, travelers could check out the Kapaemahu Stones. These 4 huge stones named Kahaloa, Kinohi, Kapaemahu, and Kapuni are very significant in the island. According to legends, the priests or kahunas have stored their magnificent powers in these 4 historic rocks. These days, this well-known landmark depicts the vivid history of the island of Oahu.

A great idea when going to a sacred site in the Aloha State is to offer a little gift like some nuts, fruits, or a lei. Presenting a small token to the spirits is sort of an unwritten rule and plenty of people offer these gifts at any sacred place. Visiting these sacred sites is a good way for tourists to get to learn more about the Hawaiian Islands.