Kailua Kona - Ahu'ena Heiau

This fully-restored temple, directly behind the Kamehameha Hotel, is possibly the best example of a Hawaiian place of sacrifice. Ahuena Heiau, in which human sacrifice also took place, was built by Kamehameha I on Kamakahonu Beach and dedicated to the god Lona.

Kamehameha I spent the last years of his life at Ahuena Heiau, possibly dying here - not too far from his birthplace, Kapaau. According to Hawaiian custom, his bones were removed from his corpse on a stone platform in the temple and taken north, possibly to Wawahiwa Point, where they were left at a secret location.

His son and successor, Kamehameha II, grew up here and this area became central to the abolition of the tabus and the destruction of heathen idols and temples during his reign. Further measures to abolish the old religion were then implemented from Lahaina, the seat of government. Restoration of Ahuena Heiau was supervised by the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, but only about one third of the temple has been rebuilt.