Religious, Spiritual sights in O'ahu
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Kane'aki Heiau
Set within the Makaha Valley, this is one of the best restored sacred sites on the island. According to legend the rain goddess was impressed with the fishing prowess of a local chief. His generous offering to her was reciprocated with generous rainfall to the parched valley and in turn a heiau was built in her honor. The site was later used as a luakini, a temple to the war god Ku and a place for human sacrifices. Kamehameha worshipped here.
The site remained in use until the time of his death in 1812. Restoration, undertaken by the Bishop Museum and completed in 1970, added two prayer towers, a taboo house, drum house, altar and god images. The heiau was reconstructed u…
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Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples is an interdenominational cemetery in a stunning setting just off the Kahekili Hwy. For most visitors the main attraction is Byodo-In, the 'Temple of Equality.' Dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, Byodo-In is a replica of the 950-year-old temple in Kyoto, Japan. For a panoramic view of the valley, head up to the hilltop mausoleum with the cross.
The Byodo-In temple's symmetry is a classic example of Japanese Heian architecture and garden design symbolizing the Pure Land of Mahayana Buddhism. The seated 9ft-tall tall Buddha in the main hall is positioned to catch the first rays of morning sunli…
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Kukaniloko
Just north of Wahiawa is the area known as Kukaniloko, which marks a group of royal birthstones where Hawaiian queens gave birth to generations of royalty. The stones date from the 12th century. Legend held that if a woman lay properly against the stones while giving birth, her child would be blessed by the gods, and indeed, many of O'ahu's great chiefs were born at this site.
These stones are one of only two documented birthstone sites in Hawaii (the other is on Kaua'i). Many of the petroglyphs on the stones are of recent origin, but the eroded circular patterns are original.
To get to the site from town, go three-quarters of a mile north on Kamehameha Hwy from its inters…
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St Andrew's Cathedral
The French Gothic St Andrew's Cathedral was King Kamehameha IV's personal homage to the architecture and faith of the Church of England. Following the tradition of the church's English founder, the Hawaiian king and his consort, Queen Emma, founded the Anglican Church of Hawaii in 1858. King Kamehameha V had the cornerstone laid in 1867 four years after the death of Kamehameha IV on St Andrew's Day - hence the name.
The construction of stone and glass was shipped from England. The impressive window of hand-blown stained glass forms the western facade reaching from the floor to the eaves. In the right-hand section of the stained glass the Reverend Thomas Staley, the first …
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Ulupo Heiau
The building of Ulupo Heiau, a sizable, open-platform temple of stones piled 30ft high and 140ft long, is attributed to menehune, the little people who legends say created much of Hawaii's stonework, finishing each project in one night. Fittingly, Ulupo means 'night inspiration.' It's thought to have been a luakini (place for human sacrifice). From the path across the top of the heiau, hikers get a view of Kawainui Marsh.
In front of the temple is an artist's rendition of the site as it probably looked in the 18th century.
Ulupo Heiau is a mile south of Kailua Rd, behind the YMCA. Coming up the Pali Hwy from Honolulu, take Uluoa St, the first left after passing the Hwy 72…
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Kuan Yin Temple
Near the entrance of Foster Botanical Garden, the Kuan Yin Temple is a bright-red Buddhist temple with a green ceramic-tile roof. The ornate interior is richly carved and filled with the sweet, pervasive smell of burning incense.The temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, Goddess of Mercy, whose statue is the largest in the prayer hall.
Devotees burn paper 'money' for prosperity and good luck. Offerings of fresh flowers and fruit are placed at the altar. The large citrus fruit that is stacked pyramid-style is the pomelo, considered a symbol of fertility because of its many seeds.Honolulu's multiethnic Buddhist community worships at the temple, and respectful visitors…
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Lili'uokalani Church
Although the current building was constructed in 1961, the Lili'uokalani Church congregation dates from 1832. A Protestant church, it's named for Queen Lili'uokalani, who spent summers on Anahulu River and attended services here, held entirely in Hawaiian until the 1940s.The church is open whenever the minister is in, usually mornings.
In 1892 Queen Lili'uokalani gave the church its seven-dial clock, which shows the hour, day, month and year, as well as the phases of the moon. The queen's 12-letter name replaces the numerals on the clock face.
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La'ie Hawaii Temple
In 1919 the Mormons constructed La'ie Hawaii Temple, a mini-version of the great Salt Lake temple, at the end of a wide promenade. It is formal and stately, like nothing else on this end of the Windward Coast. There is a visitor center where enthusiastic guides will show you pictures of the interior of the temple (off-limits to non-Mormons) and talk to you extensively about the wonders of their faith.
Nearby is the Hawaii branch of Brigham Young University, with scholarship programs attracting students from islands throughout the Pacific.
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Taoist Temple
Founded in 1889, the Lum Sai Ho Tong Society was one of more than 100 societies started by Chinese immigrants in Hawaii to help preserve their cultural identity. This one was for the Lum clan, which hails from west of the Yellow River. The society's Taoist temple honors the goddess Tin Hau, a Lum child who rescued her father from drowning and was later deified. Some claim to see her apparition when they travel by boat. The temple is not open to the general public, but you can still admire the colorful exterior.
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