Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. National Historic Site
Location	Hawaii County, Hawaii, USA
Nearest city	Waimea
Coordinates	20°01′36″N 155°49′12″W / 20.02667°N 155.82000°W / 20.02667; -155.82000Coordinates: 20°01′36″N 155°49′12″W / 20.02667°N 155.82000°W / 20.02667; -155.82000
Area	76.6 acres (31.0 ha)
Architect	Kamehameha I
Architectural style	Ancient Hawaiian
Visitation	134,403 (2012)
Website	Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
NRHP Reference #	66000105
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	December 29, 1962

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located on the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaiʻi. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaiian temple, and other historic sites.

Kamehameha I took control of western and northern Hawaiʻi island (the Kona and Kohala districts) in 1782, but for the eight years following, fought in a number of inconclusive battles. After returning from Maui in 1790, he was attacked by his cousin Keōua Kuahuʻula who still controlled the East side of the island. He returned to the village of Kawaihae, where he had spent some time earlier. A respected kahuna (priest) named Kapoukahi suggested building a luakini heiau (sacrificial temple) to gain the favor of the war god Kūkaʻilimoku.

Puʻukoholā Heiau meaning "Temple on the Hill of the Whale" was the result, probably on the site of an older temple from about 1580. It was built entirely by hand with no mortar, in less than a year. The red stones were transported by a human chain about 14 miles long, from Pololū Valley to the East. Construction was supervised by Kamehameha's brother Keliʻimaikaʻi, involving thousands of people.

The ship Fair American had been captured in 1790, along with one surviving crew member Isaac Davis, after the incident at Olowalu. Davis and a stranded British sailor named John Young became important military advisors to King Kamehameha. John Young built a house and ranch nearby, and that site is also within the park.