TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

This is a place where you can feel the breath of the ancient Hawaiian indigenous people. Puukohola Heiau, which means “Temple on Whale Hill” in Hawaiian, is a place where Hawaiians come to reflect on their decisions. The heiau (temple) was built by King Kamehameha I in 1790 in honor of Kukailimoku, the god of war. Historically significant spot for the reign of Hawaii.

In the 18th century, when King Kamehameha the Great built Puukohola Heiau, he had the stones hand-carried from Pololu Valley, more than 30 km away.

Nani Svendsen’s grandmother came to Hawai’i as a picture bride promised to a Okinawan man who journeyed to Hawai’i as a sugar plantation laborer, both in hopes of a better life. Their daughter Harumi married into a Hawaiian family whose roots are deep in Kohala, tracing lineage back to King Kamehameha. 
She says that we all can get overwhelmed by daily challenges and she believes that coming to the garden can help people reconnect with themselves and the spirit of the land to heal their hearts and souls. In Nani’s own search for healing she received the calling to restore this ancestral garden which had been dormant for more than 50 years. She spent years clearing brush and planting the beautiful tropical landscaping present today. This project is 23 years in the making and today the landscape that once was full of invasive plants is now home to native plants as well as staple crops that have fed Polynesians for hundreds of years. This land has fed and taken care of her Hawaiian lineage for nine generations now and she hopes to share this special garden with you.

Located at the northernmost tip of the island of Hawaii, this small, retro town reminds one of old Hawaii, where sugar cane plantations flourished in the past and many sugar refineries were located.

Kamehameha founded the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810 and became its first king. There are three statues of King Kamehameha the Great in Hawaii: one on Oahu and two on Hawaii Island, his birthplace.

Observation of the Ho’oku’ikahi Ceremony.

Craft workshops such as lauhala weaving will be held.

Kava is a drink made from the roots of a pepper plant native to all of Polynesia, which is dried, ground into a powder, soaked in water, and its extract squeezed out. It has long been treasured as a medicinal herb in Hawaii and is served during social ceremonies. It is a kind of Japanese sacred sake dedicated to the gods.

After all the ceremonies are over, a Hawaiian plate dinner will be served to the participants of the ceremony. Traditional Hawaiian dishes such as poi, kalua pork, lau lau, squid luau, lomi salmon, and chicken long rice.