Ruins Stabilizaton Record (Completion Report): Moa Heiau – Kamoamoa Campground, Puna

Ladd EJ. 1964. Ruins Stabilizaton Record (Completion Report): Moa Heiau – Kamoamoa Campground, Puna. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,677 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. The Moa Heiau, like all pre-colonial Hawaiian masonry structures, is constructed of unmodified blocks and slabs of basalt lava, both of the pahoehoe, smooth lava, and the 'a'a, or clinker lava, as well as large waterworn boulders of very heavy lava, called 'ala, fitted entirely without mortar. Between the stones, small chinking stones were used to dress up the outside face. The interior of the structure is composed of very loosely compacted rubble, mostly of the 'a'a type of lava, with an exterior face or veneer of selected blocks or slabs of panhoehoe, 'ala stones, and 'a'a lava. The top surface, at one time, was likely paved with smooth 'ala blocks, as indicated in and around the fireplace and in front of the house platform on top of the heiau, however, most of the present surface is composed of large fragments of 'a'a and panhoehoe blocks creating a very rough and uneven surface. This report gives information concerning the stabilization of the Moa Heiau ruins.

Type
Published Report
Authors
Ladd, Edmund
Date of Issue
1964-05-26
Publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Units
HAVO , PWR
Keywords
Kamoamoa Campground, kanaka, kānaka maoli, maoli, Moa Heiau, ruins, ruins stabilization

Series

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