Pana Oahu: Sacred Stones, Sacred Land

The sixty "heiau" photographed and described in this text are all located on on O'ahu, the island that has experienced by far the most development over the last 200 years. The images provide a compelling argument for the preservation of Hawaiian sacred places. The modest sites of the small fishing, agricultural, craft and family shrines are given particular attention because they are often difficult to recognize and prone to vandalism and neglect. Also included are the portraits of 28 Hawaiians who shared their knowledge with archaeologist J. Gilbert McAllister during his survey of O'ahu in the 1930s. The introductory text provides important contextual information about the definition and function of "heiau", the history of the abolition of traditional Hawaiian religion, preservation issues and guidelines for visiting "heiau".