ALOHA from O'ahu
---Keaiwa Heiau---
Keaiwa Heiau is a medicinal or healing heiau (temple) known as a heiau ho'ola. At this site, the kahuna (priest, expert) specializing in healing would diagnose and treat various illnesses and injuries. The kahuna would also train haumana (students) in the practice of lā'au lapa'au, medicinal healing using plants, fasting, and prayers. Many of the plants and herbs were collected from the neighboring forest while others were planted around the heiau.
The name Keaiwa has been translated as “mysterious” or “incomprehensible”. Perhaps, this name refers to the secretive powers of the kahuna and the herbs used in healing.
It is unknown when this heiau was built but has been suggested that it was in the 16th Century by Kakuhihewa, an ali'i (chief) of O'ahu, and his kahuna Keaiwa. The 4-foot-high stacked rock wall encloses the sacred area that measures 100 by 160 feet. Within the enclosure was a hālau (large, thatched structure) built for the master kahuna to store the medicinal implements and train the students. Other features might include hale (small, thatched structure) and a pūholoholo (steam bath).
Keaiwa Heiau is located near the park entance. As with other religious sites, please be respectful while visiting.
View from the trail
If you continue along the paved park road, you will come to the campgrounds, picnic areas and the trailhead for the 'Aiea Loop Trail.
The 'Aiea Loop Trail is a 4.8-mile trail that begins and ends in the park. This trail runs along the ridge on the west side of Halawa Valley and offers views from Pearl Harbor and the Wai'anae Range to Honolulu and Diamond Head (Le'ahi). There are several geocaches on the trail including the first cache placed in Hawai'i, GC23 - Geocache. A B-24 bomber crash site sits alongside the trail but has been obliterated by foliage since the incident in 1944. If doing the trail clockwise it is after GC100MY - LadyBug Cache. It is a steep, difficult descent to the site which perhaps should remain undisturbed. A memorial plaque dedicated to the ten aviators who perished sits at the trailhead.
The Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area hours are 7am to 6:45pm daily. For updated information go to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/keaiwa-heiau-state-recreation-area/
You DO need to enter the Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area to find the cache.
~~~For the puzzle, brush up on some Hawaiian History.~~~
Cache is at:
N21 23.ABC
W157 54.XYZ
- King Kamehameha II, under pressure from his co-regent and stepmother, Ka'ahumanu, abolished the kapu system in 181A.
- In 18B9 King Kamehameha III signed the Edict of Toleration which granted equal rights to Protestants and Catholics.
- In 18C3, the state motto "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness) was spoken by King Kamehameha III in his restoration speech.
- King Kamehameha the Great united the Hawaiian Islands in 181X.
- In 190Y the Hawaiian Organic Act established a territorial government with Sanford Dole appointed governor by the US President.
- The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown in 18Z3.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
Cache with Al
ha
Congrats Alohamora on the FTF!