North Kohala—Birthplace of King Kamahameha.
Mo’okini Heiau on the Big Island
Mo’okini Heiau (a stones throw from the birthplace of King Kamehameha I), located off the beaten path in North Kohala, is a place not seen by many malihini (new comers). Looking at the massive walls, kitchen, and sleeping areas, it is awe inspiring to imagine how this structure still stands after 200 years.
Situated along the rocky shoreline, Mo’okini Heiau offered ancient Hawaiians the vantage point of seeing warring canoes coming long before they arrived on shore. The stone structures remind one of the human sacrifices made of any warring natives daring to enter the area.
After King Kamehameha’s birth, runners took the baby to a valley, a few ridges past Pololu, to be raised and cared for. Each town they traveled through was named for what they saw and experienced along the way.
- Hawi means famine (no milk for the baby)
- Kapa’au means wet cloth for the wet blanket
- Niulii means small coconut
- Pololu means long spear (kalo Pololu the type of kalo grown at the time)
Come, visit, and share, but do not take anything from this place. All is sacred here.
Before arriving at Mo’okini Heiau is a little used airport called Upolu Airport. Here you can charter a plane ride to view the magnificent Kohala Coast by air.
Check out “the limousine of charter aircraft” Safari Helicopters for air tours
Along side this airport, at Upolu Point, is an expansive 40+ acre and 83+ acre parcels of land for sale. These parcel offers access to the beautiful Pacific Ocean, great fishing, and warm balmy breezes. With an asking price of only $1,150,000 and $1,850,000 respectively, (MLS# 231242) and (MLS# 231241) are something to experience for the person with a discerning eye.
Do you want to see more North Kohala property for sale?
E Komo mai – come see what we have to offer!
Lucy Clark R(B)
See Hawaii thru Hawaiian Eyes
Beth Robinson R(B)
January 4, 2011
Hi Lucy,
Mahalo for sharing your Hawai’ian perspective on our beautiful Kohala.
Buyers interested in the oceanfront parcel you mention should read up on public oceanfront access requirements, as the road to the Airport is a designated mauka-makai access for oceanfront users.
Oh, and buyers in a lower price point might look at the 20-acre lots at Puuepa which is just mauka of the Heiau. That’s where the photo was taken from if anyone is wondering about those views…
Beth Robinson R(B)
January 4, 2011
Hi Lucy,
Mahalo for sharing your Hawai’ian perspective on our beautiful Kohala.
Buyers interested in the oceanfront parcel you mention should read up on public oceanfront access requirements, as the road to the Airport is a designated mauka-makai access for oceanfront users.
Oh, and buyers in a lower price point might look at the 20-acre lots at Puuepa which is just mauka of the Heiau. That’s where the photo was taken from if anyone is wondering about those views…
Claire K. Bajo RS
January 5, 2011
Haloha Lucy! Happy New Year! What a great write-up, and the views from these North Kohala properties are amazing! I’m surprised the state doesn’t buy it from them and make it a park..so affordable for Hawaii oceanfront property! ..reminds me of Ka’anapali, Maui…and so much sacredness to the land.. ..just a few months ago, I had toured this land with a buddhist reverend from Kauai who asked me to take her to analyze the origins of the heiau for the caretakers.. this place is truly a gem.. I only felt love & aloha there! Mahalo for Sharing Lucy! Prosperity to You Always!
Claire K. Bajo RS
January 5, 2011
Haloha Lucy! Happy New Year! What a great write-up, and the views from these North Kohala properties are amazing! I’m surprised the state doesn’t buy it from them and make it a park..so affordable for Hawaii oceanfront property! ..reminds me of Ka’anapali, Maui…and so much sacredness to the land.. ..just a few months ago, I had toured this land with a buddhist reverend from Kauai who asked me to take her to analyze the origins of the heiau for the caretakers.. this place is truly a gem.. I only felt love & aloha there! Mahalo for Sharing Lucy! Prosperity to You Always!
Beth Thoma Robinson R(B)
January 6, 2011
@ Claire–funny you should mention buying oceanfront parcels as I am sitting here looking at my To Do list from last night’s monthly Kohala Access Group meeting. The North Kohala CDP is available on line and the section on Access describes which parcels are priorities for conservation and public access. We have had great success, with several acquisitions completed along the west-facing coast in 2010, and the area known as Lighthouse or Kauhola voted #3 priority for State Legacy Land funds for 2011 The parcels Lucy writes about would be unlikely acquisitions for a public park because of their location adjacent to both the airport and the wind farm. New private ownership would therefore be welcome and the land there is rich for agriculture.
Beth Thoma Robinson R(B)
January 6, 2011
@ Claire–funny you should mention buying oceanfront parcels as I am sitting here looking at my To Do list from last night’s monthly Kohala Access Group meeting. The North Kohala CDP is available on line and the section on Access describes which parcels are priorities for conservation and public access. We have had great success, with several acquisitions completed along the west-facing coast in 2010, and the area known as Lighthouse or Kauhola voted #3 priority for State Legacy Land funds for 2011 The parcels Lucy writes about would be unlikely acquisitions for a public park because of their location adjacent to both the airport and the wind farm. New private ownership would therefore be welcome and the land there is rich for agriculture.
Lucy
January 6, 2011
Mahalo all for your mana’o
Lucy
January 6, 2011
Mahalo all for your mana’o
LILLY CRUZ
March 29, 2011
WE ARE INTERESTED ON 2 PROPERTIES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND RESORT. wILL YOU LEASE GIVE US MORE DETAILS AND PRICE OF THE PROPERTIES.
bEST REGARDS,
lILLY
LILLY CRUZ
March 29, 2011
WE ARE INTERESTED ON 2 PROPERTIES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND RESORT. wILL YOU LEASE GIVE US MORE DETAILS AND PRICE OF THE PROPERTIES.
bEST REGARDS,
lILLY
Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
March 30, 2011
@Lilly – Overnight lodging on agriculturally zoned land (as these parcels are) would probably be difficult to achieve at this location, if that is what you mean by “resort”. The Community Development Plan for the district directs the planning department not to give out special use permits as this district needs to preserve its agricultural heritage. But there could be other parcels suitable for that use!
Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
March 30, 2011
@Lilly – Overnight lodging on agriculturally zoned land (as these parcels are) would probably be difficult to achieve at this location, if that is what you mean by “resort”. The Community Development Plan for the district directs the planning department not to give out special use permits as this district needs to preserve its agricultural heritage. But there could be other parcels suitable for that use!
Lucy
March 30, 2011
Mahalo for your mana’o and for sharing with all of us, Beth.
Lucy
March 30, 2011
Mahalo for your mana’o and for sharing with all of us, Beth.
Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
March 30, 2011
Lucy, you know how passionate I am about the effort to Keep Kohala “Kohala”. I have learned so much from listening to kama’aina like you, but it is with total humility that I share what little I know about this historic part of Hawai’i.
Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
March 30, 2011
Lucy, you know how passionate I am about the effort to Keep Kohala “Kohala”. I have learned so much from listening to kama’aina like you, but it is with total humility that I share what little I know about this historic part of Hawai’i.