Hawaii/Big Island: Ahu’ena Heiau Temple
Hawaii was a kingdom from 1810 to 1893. It became a kingdom when King Kamehameha I unified the islands of Hawaii under his rule in 181, and then the kingdom was ruled by a succession of monarchs from the Kamehameha dynasty until the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893. After the overthrow, Hawaii became a republic, then a territory of the United States, and eventually the 50th state in 1959. There are several temples and royal residences from the Kamehameha era scattered around the Kona area and the south of the island, one of which is the Ahu’ena Heiau Temple which was a royal retreat of Kamehameha and his successor Liholiho. There are three main structures on the stone platform (parpae) – Hale Mana (thatched roof prayer hall), Hale Pahu (the great ceremonial drum and the large white tower), and Anu’u (the place where the priest communicated with gods). All around is a great clear water and volcanic rocks with fantastic snorkeling.
