The Sacred Site In Hawaii That Will Absolutely Astonish You

Found on the outskirts of Wahiawa in the middle of a sugarcane field, a few hundred yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80 is an unsuspecting sacred site you could easily drive past if you weren’t aware of its existence. Here, located in the middle of a field, you will find a group of rocks, known as the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, a sacred Hawaiian site that has seen countless royal births over the last several centuries.

Sean Munson/Flickr

In the Hawaiian language, Kukaniloko means "to anchor the cry from within," and was constructed in the 12th century by an Oahu chief whose first son, Kapawa, was born here.

Sean Munson/Flickr

The birthing rocks were placed here - in the geographic center of Oahu - because ancient Hawaiians believing the life force of the land to be strong in this location. Only ali’i (royalty) were allowed to set foot upon this sacred ground, and special markers were created to ensure that no one else stepped onto the land.

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It was on these sacred rocks that royal women were taken to give birth: it was assumed that giving birth here assured them high-ranking status. It was also believed that the women who gave birth at Kukaniloko experienced no pain while giving birth, though that might have been the strict diet exercise recommended by priests before birth.

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Sean Munson/Flickr

Kukaniloko was also the site of several important battles and power struggles that would determine the fates of their entire communities. You will also find two rows of rocks that guard the entrance to the site: these were not here originally, and were placed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources to recognize the 36 chiefs that witnessed the births.

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Recent research has discovered that the stones may have served an astronomical purpose as well – perhaps as a sort of a Pacific Islands henge? A team from the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy recorded shapes and designs on the stones that may have been used to track the movements of celestial objects for calendrical purposes.

Loren Havier/Flickr

Christopher Rose/Flickr

This is one of the most significant historic sites on the island of Oahu, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and became a state park in 1992. There’s not much to see here, but the historic site is well-taken care of, and sure to offer a peaceful and spiritual experience for those who visit.

Patricia Barden/Flickr

Please take note that this site is considered incredibly spiritual and sacred to the Hawaiian people, and that you are not to move or remove anything from the site, nor should you climb on the rocks.

From the road, you will not find a sign marking the entrance: the entrance is marked by a small dirt clearing big enough for only a few cars to park. Click here for more information about the birthing ritual.