Hawaiian Archaeology

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For Spring Break, Denzil and I had the opportunity to go to Hawaii with his family. The six of us (his parents, sister, and his sister's husband) went to the Big Island first, then we stayed in Oahu for a few days. I really did not know that much about Hawaiian archaeology before I left, aside from vague dates of when the islands were inhabited and the general mode of subsistence for ancient settlements. The archaeological sites we visited were both located on the Big Island.

The Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs

The Pu'u Loa petroglyphs are found at the bottom of Kilauea. They were carved into the pahoehoe and lava flows, and their age is not known. Polynesians did not reach the island until sometime around AD 300, and some carvings depict cows and other animals that would not have arrived until the Europeans reached the islands in the 18th century, so they are between 1700-200 years old. There are carvings of men, women, children, animals, people surfing, and a number of geometrical shapes. There are also many holes that were drilled into the rock, and this is where Hawaiian fathers would place their newborn's umbilical cord to pray for the long life of their child. What struck me about the petroglyhps was how similiar they were to the ones I viewed in Nampaweap Canyon in Arizona. Although the triangle-shaped people depicted in Hawaiian petroglyphs are unique, there were many stick figures, animals, and geometric shapes such as spirals and swirls that looked identical. Many of these symbols are universal, and are found in many parts of the world.

Mookini Site

Mookini Heiau is a National Historic Landmark, and is said to have been an ancient temple for sacrificial offerings and worship. Upon entering the site, you approach two large rocks that are believed to be the stones used in sacrificial ceremonies. According to local legend, the victims were bound to the tall rock and their throats were cut. The bodies were then moved to the flat stone where they were processed. Parts of the body, such as the bones, would be used to make ritual items. The large, flat stone is smooth to the touch on the surface, indicating years of heavy use. The ocean is visible from the site. Standing next to the stones and listening to the wind and the sea is an eerie feeling, and it is easy to understand why locals believe the place is haunted.

The temple itself is in ruins, but the walls in some places are still 30 feet high. You can still see the general outline of the rooms inside and outside of the temple. It was a great site. It is still considered to be a sacred place to native Hawaiians, so archaeological investigation is prohibited and none of the claims can be verified at this time. Mookini is thought to date from AD 480, with most expansion and activity occuring several centuries later.

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Photos

Pu'uloa Petroglyphs
The triangle-shape figures are unique to Hawaii

Pu'uloa
The figures are scattered along the ground. A boardwalk was constructed to help protect the site and keep them from being trampled under foot.

The Mookini Site
Standing outside of the temple looking towards the sea

The sacrifical stones
Local legend says that the tall rock was for the actual sacrifice, and the flat rock was where the bodies were processed.

The Temple
Even though the temple is in ruins, it is easy to see where the rooms were located

Mookini Site
I am not sure what this rock functioned as... is it a posthole of some kind? A place for offerings? A flagholder? It's anyone's guess.