The Hawaiian Islands are dotted with sacred and historic places. Many of these places are preserved and have special meaning to Hawaiian people. Hawaiian temples, called heiaus, are places of spirituality and worship and are filled with mana (spiritual power).Many sacred places in Hawaii are open to visitors and are fairly easy to find. True adventurers will find that there are many hidden magical places on the islands, as well.Remember also, that Hawaii itself is sacred and meant to be enjoyed, so you can create sacredness where ever you go!Follow the steps below to find sacred places.
Instructions
Finding Sacred Places on the Hawaiian Islands
1. Many island maps mark heiaus and other places of sacred significance, such as caves, lava tubes, special beaches and parks.Try Franko's Guide Maps. These maps are laminated, durable and compact. The maps mark roads, tourist destinations and sacred places. You can read short highlights of some of the more popular places right on the map!A look at Franko's O'ahu Guide Map shows the location of sacred birth stones, Mahaka Caverns and 50 or so other locations with tips on where to go for good snorkeling, horseback riding and other activities.
2. Check out a good guidebook.Guidebooks will also show you what to look for and give specific driving directions to sacred areas, as well what to do, see and know while you're visiting.A look at the The Big Island Revealed -- which hones in on the Big Island only -- reveals a good dose of history both past and recent. For instance, when looking up Waipio Valley, you'll find that ancient Hawaiians believed that Waipio Valley was the door to the underworld. Also covered is get there, weather conditions, hiking trails and a primer for four-wheeling in the valley.Another good choice is any of the Lonely Planet Guides to the Hawaiian Islands. Check out www.lonelyplanet.com for more information and a peek into the books.For a more spiritual, off-the-beaten path guidebook, check out "The Secrets and Mysteries of Hawaii," by Pila of Hawaii.
3. Search the Web for information. Alone, Hawaii's official tourism Web site provides oodles of information on sacred places. A Yahoo! search returns alternative-hawaii.com, where you can browse sacred places by clicking links to each island.A look at the Maui page shows over a dozen places of interest, including the Pi'ilanihale heiau, which is thought to be the largest ancient place of worship for Polynesians. Discovering the stories of these places will enrich your visit to the Hawaiian Islands. Read up!
4. An easy, but more expensive option, is to book a tour. The Hawaiian islands are one of the world's most sought after destinations and the islands are teeming with tour options.A quick Internet search for "sacred Hawaii tours" turns up hundreds of pages on a variety of tours. Check out sacredhikes.com for a listing of sacred tours by The Real Hawaii. Another good place to stop is Hawaii's Official Tourism site.If your searching for something smaller and more personal, many spiritual teachers who live on the islands offer tailored, personal tours. Search the Internet or post an ad on a message board, like Craigslist.org, detailing what you want. Good luck!
5. While visiting the islands, ask local people where to go. There are many sacred places that aren't on the map or in the guidebook. So, while charting your course, leave room to go exploring the unknown. If you have a strong intention and ask the right people, you just might find yourself at a "hidden" waterfall of sacred proportions, or another special place.
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