Under preservation next to the Kona Education Center lies the historic Kealakowa’a (“the way for dragging canoes”) Heiau.  This ritual site, built in the 1600’s in the time of King Umi, was used for blessing canoes and can be seen from both the highway and the Center’s parking lot.  The 1.9-acre site contains a group of platforms including a heiau for the high priest to officiate, an astrological temple to study omens and navigational stars, the foundation of a high priest’s house, and the foundation of a house in which were held council meetings of the seers and chiefs.   The sacred site is positioned along an ancient trail that led from the upland forests of Acacia koa trees on Mt. Hualalai down to the Pacific Ocean at Holualoa Bay.   After candidate trees were selected and felled in the forest, the logs were hewn into the rough shape of a canoe and then dragged down to the heiau for blessing ceremonies and completion.  From there they were dragged down to the south tip of Holualoa Bay known as Kamoa Point, for launching.

The Polynesians are master canoe builders and supreme navigators, and thus were able to survive the lengthy voyages required for their migrations.   The canoe was the focal point of their life, traditions, and customs.  The canoe gave them access to the ocean near their shores and the world beyond.   The canoe was an “ancestral spaceship” and their choices of clothing, food sources, plants and animals, rituals and astronomy were all influenced by the presence of the canoe in their culture.

Future projects include the restoration of the original structures damaged by the 2006 earthquake, a hale wa’a (canoe house) where canoe-making demonstrations can be staged for educational purposes for school children and other visitors.   These projects will further Kona Education Center’s vision to make the heiau a community resource and retain the quality of the area around the heiau, consistent with its history as a once very lively and vital site.