KUKANILOKO
Kukaniloko is also known as the Royal Birthing Stones. This is the location where Royal women were brought to give birth. Beginning with the birth of Kapawa in the 1300’s and possibly earlier, this site was known as the Royal Birth site in Oahu. Being born here assured a child high ranking status and the privileges of that status. It also maintained the purity of the Royal lineages which gave Chiefs the Godly status and right to be leaders. When a child was born, there were 36 Chiefs present. The child was called He ali’I, He akua, He wela ( A Chief, A God, A Blaze of Heat ). After the birth, the child was taken to the nearby Waihu Heiau called Ho’olonapahu where the purification rites and cutting of the umbilical cord were overseen by 48 Chiefs. The sacred drums stored at Ho’olonopahu were beaten to announce the Royal birth.
Royal birthing stones
Kukaniloko was used as the Royal birth site well into the 17th century. Several renown Chiefs such as Ma’ilikukahi and Kakahihewa were born here. The reign of these Chiefs was marked by good deeds, peace and prosperity. A few miles from Kukaniloko toward the Waimea mountains is Helemano, where the last of the cannibal chiefs from the South Pacific settled after being driven from Mokule’ia and Waialua by the people from those areas. Just a little further east, is Oahunui (Great Oahu). This is another Historical place because it was the residents of the kings of the Island. Ancient Hawaiian legend say that After being forced to Helemano, the Lo’ai-kanaka (the people eaters) were on their best behavior and careful to be extra nice to the Royal families living next to them. The King whose name was also Oahunui was impressed with their manners and invited them to a feast. In turn the Cannibals invited Oahunui to a feast and fed him human flesh disguised as pork. The king told them that their pork was much better than the pork the Royal chef prepares, hinting for more invitations to dinner. For a long time the Lo’Aikanaka invited the King to a feast for almost any reason. It became apparent to the community that every time the King went to one of these feasts, some person from a local village would disappear and never be found. Suspicions grew stronger and people demanded the King end his visits. The king ended his visits but his taste for the meat never changed. One day he heard the large waves crashing on the beach and told his staff that the fish in the royal pond were overcrowded and that they should go and see what they could do. While they were gone, he ate his niece and nephew. Return From Kukaniloko To Central Oahu
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