Pu'uhonua o Honaunau

This site on the 'Big Island' of Hawaii was a place of safety for defeated warriors, noncombatants in time of war, and those who violated the sacred laws. King Kamehameha II abolished traditional religious practices in 1819 and many of the old religious sites and structures were abandoned. The site now preserves aspects of traditional Hawaiian life, and many of the old buildings have been reconstructed.

It was great to visit this historical park on our first day in Hawaii and start to learn about the traditional culture of the islands.