Hale Kahiko

Lonely Planet review

The three thatched houses at Hale Kahiko replicate part of an ancient Hawaiian village. The location at the back of a shopping center isn't without its irony, but the site nonetheless offers an insightful glimpse of Hawaiian life before Western development swept the landscape.

The buildings are authentically constructed of ohia-wood posts, native pili grass thatch and coconut-fiber lashings. The grounds are planted in native flora that Hawaiians relied upon for food and medicinal purposes. Each hale (house) had a different function; one was used as family sleeping quarters, one as a men's eating house, and the third as a workshop where women made tapa. Inside you'll find gourd containers, woven baskets, poi pounders and other essentials of Hawaiian life.