Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Puʻukohola Heiau's Cultural Festival Slated Aug. 16-17 [ARTICLE]

Puʻukohola Heiau's Cultural Festival Slated Aug. 16-17

I he 14th annual cultural festival of the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16 and 17, in Pelekane near the beach area, below the heiau and Spencer Beach Park road in Kawaihae. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. The festival commemorates Pu'ukohola Heiau's 14th anniversary as a national historic site, authorized in 1972 but not accommodating visitors until 1974. Over 30 Hawaiian arts and crafts workshops will be available this year for the public. They range from games playing to food tasting and lei making to quilting.

Since the festival s inception, a steady increase in the crowds has been noted. There were over 2,400 participants at the 1985 festival and Superintendent Jerry Y. Shimoda figures to top that total this year. Festivities on opening day Aug. 16 will feature a procession by the Royal Court to the heiau, offering hookupu or gifts. The court will then proceed to the Pelekane area to observe the hula kahiko or ancient Hawaiian dances. A review of the various workshops and activities to be presented will follow, and onee approved, the teachingand learning of Hawaiian crafts will begin. The staff of Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site is working with the members of various Hawaiian civic club members on the island, friends of the park and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau staff to demonstrate the Hawaiian crafts. The Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club has /- \

worked with the park's cultural festivals since its ineeption and the Hawaii Natural History Association and the National Park Service assist with the funding of supplies and materials for the many crafts. Shimoda invites and encourages the public to participate in this event whieh is without charge and to leam a craft or game to help perpetuate our islands' culture and heritage. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a luneh and plan to spend the entire day learning and enjoying the environment and people. Pu'ukohola Heiau was built by Kamehameha the Great in 1791 to gain mana or spiritual power to unify the islands. When the temple was completed in the summer of 1791, human offerings were made to Kuka'ilimoku, Kamehameha's family war god. The principal sacrifice at this particular heiau was Keoua Ku'ahu'ula, Kamehameha's cousin and last remaining rival chief for the Big lsland. Onee this happened, Kamehameha gained sole possession of the island and had conquered most of the islands by 1795, including Oahu. Kauai peacefully conceded to Kamehameha in 1810, thus making him the first king of the Hawaiian islands. Many Hawaiians today still use the temple for religious purposes and consider Pu'ukohola Heiau as being very important because this is where the history of the Kingdom of Hawaii had its beginning.