Double hulled canoe rides are available at the annual Cultural Festival, which is held Aug. 11 and 12 at the Puukohola Heiau. (Anna Pacheco/Special to West Hawaii Today)
During the gift giving ceremony, groups approach with a variety of offerings, which are set upon a lele, or altar. (Anna Pacheco/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Royal court ceremonies, including a gift-giving ceremony, were held Saturday during the annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival at the Puukohola Heiau. (Anna Pacheco/Special to West Hawaii Today)
The gift giving ceremony was held on Saturday morning at the Puukohola Heiau. (Anna Pacheco/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Various groups bring gifts to present, which are set upon a lele, or altar, during the annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival at the Puukohola Heiau. (Anna Pacheco/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Hundreds of people attended this year’s Hookuikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival Saturday at Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
This annual two-day celebration commemorated the annivesary of Hawaii kingdom’s founding and had a theme of Ke Kulana Noeau o Ka Wa Kahiko, or “The Culture of Ancient Hawaii.” Established as a National Historic Site Aug. 17, 1972, Puukohola Heiau continues to be a place where living history is perpetuated, and where efforts to bring the people of Hawaii together in pursuit of completing Kamehameha the Great’s unfinished good deeds is a primary objective.
The stone heiau at Kawaihae is one of the last major sacred structures built in Hawaii before outside influences altered ancient Hawaiian life permanently. Constructed in 1790-1791 by Kamehameha I, it ultimately led to his unification of the Hawaiian Islands and its people by 1810.
Festivities continued Sunday with cultural demonstrations, workshops and activities at Pelekane Bay, located just below Puukohola Heiau.
For more information, call 882-7218 or visit nps.gov/puhe.
