National Historic Landmark

Hokukano-Ualapue Complex

Ualapue, Maui County, Hawaii
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000304

About this property

The Hōkūkano-ʻUalapuʻe Complex is a National Historic Landmarked pre-contact archaeological site on several properties adjacent to Hawaii Route 450 in ʻUalapuʻe, on Molokaʻi island. The complex includes six heiaus and two fishponds. The complex is one of the most important collections of native Hawaiian sites in Hawaii. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The largest of the six heiau in the complex is ʻIliʻiliʻōpae, the largest heiau on Molokai and the second largest in all Hawaii. It consists of four tiers, rising to a stone platform measuring 287 feet by 87 feet. It is located half a mile north of Highway 450, and can be reached by a track up the Mahulepu valley from the highway near milepost 15. According to legend ʻIliʻiliʻōpae Heiau was constructed in a single night with boulders passed from hand to hand along a chain of menehune from the Wailau valley on the north shore. A hiking trail from the temple to Wailau has now fallen into disuse and is overgrown. The two ponds considered part of this complex are Keawanui Pond and ʻUalapuʻe Pond. Keawanui Pond is located on the south coast of Molokai, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of ʻUalapuʻe. It is a loko kuapā, or walled pond, which distinctively uses a curved portion of the natural coastline and a small island as part of its isolating barrier. The barrier wall is pierced in several places by sluice gates. The second pond, ʻUalapuʻe Pond, is located on the shore at the eponymous village, and is also a loko kuapa, the seawall built out of coral and basalt. The wall is 1,575 feet (480 m) long, 4 feet (1.2 m) high, and varies in width from 8 to 19 feet (2.4 to 5.8 m). There are two sluice gates in the wall. National Register of Historic Places listings in Maui County, Hawaii

Location

Ualapue, Maui County, Hawaii
21.05670, -156.84034

Categories

PREHISTORIC
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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Geology
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Kalaupapa National Historical Park
Civil War
10.1 mi
Meyer, R. W., Sugar Mill
Industrial
13 mi
U.S. Coast Guard Molokai Light
Industrial
13.4 mi
Wo Hing Society Building
Industrial
16.1 mi
Hale Pa'i
Early Republic
16.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hokukano-Ualapue Complex listed on the National Register?

Hokukano-Ualapue Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Hokukano-Ualapue Complex?

Hokukano-Ualapue Complex is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Hokukano-Ualapue Complex a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Hokukano-Ualapue Complex has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Hokukano-Ualapue Complex?

The period of significance for Hokukano-Ualapue Complex is recorded as the listed era.

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