Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 9, 1 September 2015 — Puʻukoholā Heiau escapes brushfire [ARTICLE]

Puʻukoholā Heiau escapes brushfire

Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site in Kawaihae, Hawai'i Island, was scorched by a brushfire in early August, but the heiau itself was undamaged by the fire, according to the National Park Service. The service said the fire burned 90 percent of the vegetation in the park's 80 acres and eame within a few feet of the visitor center and park headquarters. The park service said Pu'ukoholā Heiau and the older Mailekini Heiau were unscathed by the fire. "We are incredibly grateful to all the agencies and volunteers who banded together to fight this fire," said Park Superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea in a statement. "Thankfully, there were no injuries to visitors or park staff." Pu'ukoholā Heiau is the massive stone structure where King Kamehameha I launched his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.