Sacred Hill of Fire: 'Ahu'ena Heiau in Kailua Villiage, Big Island Hawaii

Ancient ruins? Human sacrifice?

If you are the kind of person who enjoys the excitement of archeology, then this next spot on your tour around the island maybe just what you are looking for. Centuries ago the inhabitants of this region built a series of sacred temples, or heiaus, which were originally used for the purpose of sacrificing human beings to their war god, Kuka'ilimoku. This particular archeological site is called Ahu'ena Heiau, which in Hawaiian means "Hill of Fire".

Take a moment to stop here for a look, who knows what you may find. Who knows what spirits you my encounter. In any event, as you take the time to examine the reconstructed grounds of this particular heiau, keep in mind that to this very day these are places of sanctity and solace for many of the native Hawai'ians. As with all such places, remember to respect this setting as well by not removing anything whatsoever from the site. Meanwhile, as you ponder in your minds just what it is you're looking at, consider a little history...

For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and touring the historic and cultural sites of the Big Island in particular, please visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com.

Written directed and produced by Donald B. MacGowan; Narrated by Frank Burgess; Original Musical Score by Donald B. MacGowan. All media copyright 2009 by Donald MacGowan; all rights reserved.