Keaʻiwa Heiau State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keaʻiwa Heiau State Recreation Area |
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 Keaʻiwa Heiau State Recreation Area
Location in Hawaii
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| Nearest city | Aiea, Hawaii |
| Area | 384 acres (155 ha) |
| Governing body | Hawaii State Parks Division |
Keaʻiwa Heiau State Recreation Area is a special place in Hawaiʻi. It holds the ruins of an ancient temple, called a Heiau in the Hawaiian language. This historic site sits on top of a hill in the ʻAiea Heights neighborhood on Oʻahu island.
The recreation area is a great spot for outdoor activities. It has places for camping and a fun trail that is about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) long. From here, you can also get amazing views of Pearl Harbor. The name Keaʻiwa might mean "mysterious" or "hard to understand." Many believe this name came from the amazing healing powers of the plants that grew there. People couldn't fully explain how they worked. Some also called it a "Heiau Hoʻola," which means a healing or life-giving temple. This idea comes from Mary Kawena Pukui, a famous Hawaiian scholar.
The Ancient Healing Temple
The Keaʻiwa Heiau temple was built a long time ago, around the 1500s. It was created by Kakuhihewa, who was a powerful chief of Oʻahu. The temple was quite large, measuring about 24 meters (100 feet) by 49 meters (160 feet). Its walls were about 1.2 meters (4 feet) high and 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide. These walls were made from many carefully placed stones, with smaller rocks filling the inside.
This heiau was like an ancient hospital or clinic. Kahuna, who were Hawaiian healers, used the many medicinal plants growing nearby. They would gather these herbs to create special medicines. The kahuna also taught haumana (students) the art of laʻau lapaʻau, which means healing medicine. This training included praying, fasting, and using plants for healing. Even today, some visitors come to the area hoping to find healing. They sometimes leave small offerings at the temple.
Exploring the Area
Most of the trees you see in the park today were planted in the early 1900s. However, if you hike to the highest parts of the trail, you can still find some plants that are native to Hawaiʻi. You might also spot the remains of a military airplane that crashed here in 1993.
The park provides a map for the ʻAiea Loop Trail. This trail is about 4.5 miles long. As you walk, you'll see many different kinds of trees and plants. It's a wonderful way to enjoy nature.
Visiting the Park
Keaʻiwa Heiau State Recreation Area is free for everyone to visit.
The park hours change depending on the time of year:
- From April 1st to Labor Day: 7:00 AM to 7:45 PM
- After Labor Day to March 31st: 7:00 AM to 6:45 PM
The park has areas for camping and picnics. These spots can hold up to 100 people. They also have restrooms and showers. If you want to camp, you need to get a permit in advance.
Images for kids
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This plaque explains that Keaʻiwa Heiau was a healing temple where Hawaiian herb doctors practiced.
