Inikiwai Ku'ula Heiau

The Inikiwai Heiau, sometimes known as the Pahe'ehe'e Ku'ula, is an archaeological site associated with Hawaiian fishing shrines built on promontories along the seashore or near ponds and streams. These shrines were places for prayer and offerings to the fish god Ku'ula or to a fisherman's personal family gods, the 'Aumakua. Ku'ula was the most prominent fishing god, and his wife Hina and son Aiai were also fishing gods. The shrine itself was also called a Ku'ula, and fishermen prayed to the Ku'ula stone image at these Ku'ula heiaus for an abundant catch before going fishing. After returning, they addressed the gods and placed the first fish caught on top of the heiau as an offering to Ku'ula or to their own 'Aumakua, sometimes marking that first fish by cutting its tail or keeping it in the bow of the canoe apart from the rest of the catch until they returned. Mounted on top of this heiau platform is the original Ku'ula stone fish god; these Ku'ula stones were usually ocean-tumbled polished stones, odd-shaped stones, or sometimes hand-carved stones. Fishing hot spots in the sea were called Ko'as, and fishermen located them by taking sightings with prominent land objects, sometimes using Ku'ula shrines as part of the alignment. Hawaiian fishermen followed many fishing-related beliefs: they kept their equipment clean, neat, orderly, and stored high above dirt floors; new nets, fish hooks, and other devices were blessed by a Kahuna, or priest; some fish hooks were made of bone, sometimes from the bones of enemies; and some fishermen carried small stone images of Ku'ula or their own 'Aumakua in their canoes because they believed these images drew fish near. Bad dreams, bananas in the canoe, and the color black were believed to bring bad luck. Fishermen believed fish could hear, so they did not tell friends they were going fishing, and because fish were thought aware of disturbances at home, the family had to be on its best behavior while the fisherman was away. He did not talk while fishing, but prayed silently to his own 'Aumakua for guidance to the best fishing spot, and after fishing and making offerings to Ku'ula, he returned home quietly and thankfully without bragging about the catch. This heiau was originally larger than it is now and rectangular in shape, measuring 40 feet from north to south and 20 feet from east to west, with a 4-foot-high lava wall around it; it was built on a knoll of brittle lava chunks of a'a, rose about 10 feet above ground level, had a top paved with hand-placed 'ili'ili pebbles, and was later modified by erosion and negligent bulldozing.

Kahaluu-Keauhou, Hawaii · United States