Ruins Stabilization Report, Supplement I: Alealea Heiau

Ladd, Edmond

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located on the west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. The historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puʻuhonua. This ruins stabilization record concerns the Alcalea heiau ruin. This very large, impressive heiau (temple) platform is like most pre-historic and historic structures, constructed of blocks of lava (basalt) fitted without mortar. The structure is, far as is known from restoration reports, constructed in the same manner as the great wall, i.e. open work called pao construction. During the stabilization projected as outlined in the pre-stabilization report of the outside wall, the archaeological crew working ahead of the stabilization crew uncovered, inside the second wall, a series of walls which have been traced out and upon which a conclusion has been reached. Regardless of the final conclusion on the two outer heiaus as to date of construction, there was amuch earlier and much smaller structure inside the second heiau. This documents consists of a series of photos of a model showing the various stages of constructions and actual on-site photos, which, it is hoped, will assist in visualizing the important features. The ground plan view is for orientation and the three-dimensional drawing is to show what the structure will look like upon completion.

Ruins Stabilization Report, Supplement I: Alealea Heiau

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See also