Kāneiolouma Complex

Kāneiolouma Complex is an ancient Hawaiian village on Kauaʻi’s south shore near Poʻipū, dating to about the mid-15th century. Once understood mainly as an important heiau, it came to be recognized as a larger village complex organized around religion, agriculture, and aquaculture. Its features include taro patches, fishponds, shrines, house sites, and a central Makahiki arena used for games and ceremony, where seating reflected social rank and contests included boxing, wrestling, and spear throwing. After becoming overgrown, the site entered restoration in 1998, and it remains an important example of Native Hawaiian land use, ceremonial life, and cultural continuity.

Poipu, Hawaii · United States