Halekii-Pihana Heiaus State Monument

monument, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The Halekii-Pihana Heiaus State Monument is located near Wailuku, on the island of Maui, Hawaii. This monument preserves two heiaus, which are pre-Christian Hawaiian temples or places of worship. These structures were historically used by Kahekili, the last king of Maui, and were sometimes sites for human sacrifices. The name Wailuku itself, meaning "Water of Destruction," refers to a significant battle that occurred in 1790.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Wailuku
Nearby is Halekii-Pihana Heiaus State Monument, which preserves two heiaus (ceremonial and religious structures) that were used by Kahekili, Maui’s last king; the temples were sometimes used for human sacrifices. Pop. (2000) 12,296; (2010) 15,313.
Read More
Nearby is Halekii-Pihana Heiaus State Monument, which preserves two heiaus (ceremonial and religious structures) that were used by Kahekili, Maui’s last king; the temples were sometimes used for human sacrifices. Pop. (2000) 12,296; (2010) 15,313.
Read More