Kohala Historical Sites State Monument, Sacred temple complex in North Kohala, Hawaii, US

Kohala Historical Sites State Monument contains Moʻokini Heiau, a 250-by-130-foot stone temple with an open paved court enclosed by 20-foot walls, and the birthplace of Kamehameha I a few hundred yards away, marked by a rock within a double square enclosure.

Moʻokini Heiau's oral genealogy places Kuamoʻo Moʻokini at the site in 480, and tradition holds that Paʻao rebuilt the temple between 1100 and 1300, bringing the Hawaiian religion and dedicating it to the war god Kū. It was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 29, 1962, and listed on the National Register in 1966. In November 1978 Kahuna Nui Leimomi Moʻokini Lum lifted the kapu, opening the temple to all.

Moʻokini means "many lineages" or "many Moʻo," the reptile goddesses honored before Paʻao's time. For centuries kapu restricted the heiau to the Aliʻi Nui, who prayed and offered sacrifices to the war god Kū. In November 1978 Kahuna Nui Leimomi Moʻokini Lum rededicated it to the "Children of the Land" and lifted the kapu; her family has cared for the temple for generations.

The site sits in a remote location accessed by a dirt road that can be challenging during wet weather. Wear sturdy footwear and bring water, as the area offers limited shade and shelter.

The stones used in construction were transported by hand from a distant valley, showing the immense effort invested in this sacred place. This logistical achievement reveals how important the site was to ancient Hawaiian communities.