The small town of Wahiawa in Central Oahu was once the birthplace of Hawaiian ali 'i, or royalty, distinguished by the Kukaniloko Birthstone State Monument, a historic site that sits just off of Whitmore Avenue and Kamehameha Highway. Resembling a mere pile of rocks resting in the middle of five acres of dirt, the monument is actually the first ancient site on Oahu to gain official recognition.
Kukaniloko means "to anchor the cry from within." A woman in labor would brace herself between two attendants and squat over one of the sacred stones until her child was born. This event was witnessed by 36 young Hawaiian chiefs and 48 elder Hawaiian chiefs, who were responsible for the cutting of the umbilical cord.
The more than 80 stones at Kukaniloko had multiple uses; some were for ceremonial births, while others were used for mapping stars and marking changes in the seasons. Though there are no official tours or hours of operation for Kukaniloko, these sacred grounds are definitely a must-see.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Sunrise to Sunset
- Admission:
- Free
- Contact:
- Location: North Kamehameha Highway and Whitmore Avenue, Oahu HI
- Website: www.hawaiistateparks.org
