Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Hawaii Kailua Ulupō Heiau

Ulupō Heiau

Hidden behind a YMCA stands the remains of a ceremonial site that dates back hundreds of years, whose ground is still considered sacred to many Hawaiians.

Kailua, Hawaii

Added By
Rachel Cassidy
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  RachelCassidy / Atlas Obscura User
  RachelCassidy / Atlas Obscura User
  RachelCassidy / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

Hidden behind a YMCA stands the remains of the Ulupō Heiau, a temple that could date as far back as the 1400s, whose ground is still considered sacred to many Hawaiians. This heiau is 140 by 180 feet and the remaining walls stand up to 30 feet tall.

A heiau is a traditional place of worship, refuge, and ceremony in Hawaiian culture. This site was likely used for multiple purposes over time, from rites and ceremonies related to planting and harvest to success in war.

The stones used to build this site were brought in from far away—according to records, some of the stones came from Kualoa, which is located more than 10 miles away. So who carried and arranged the massive rocks that make up this heiau? According to local legend, the credit goes to a mystical people called the Menehune who were known for being superb craftspeople and about three feet tall.

Related Tags

Sacred Spaces Indigenous Ruins State Parks Temples

Community Contributors

Added By

RachelCassidy

Edited By

marileeski

  • marileeski

Published

March 23, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/ulupo-heiau-state-historic-site/
Ulupō Heiau
635 Manu Oo St
Kailua, Hawaii
United States
21.385585, -157.75292
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Kaneohe, Hawaii

miles away

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Honolulu, Hawaii

miles away

The Queen Theater

Honolulu, Hawaii

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kailua

Kailua

Hawaii

Places 2

Nearby Places

Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Kaneohe, Hawaii

miles away

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Honolulu, Hawaii

miles away

The Queen Theater

Honolulu, Hawaii

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kailua

Kailua

Hawaii

Places 2

Related Places

  • Abo kiva in foreground, church in background

    Mountainair, New Mexico

    Salinas Pueblo Missions

    The remains of Abó, Gran Quivera, and Qurai are monuments to the long, complicated history of the Indigenous people of the Southwest.

  • Plum Bayou mounds

    Scott, Arkansas

    Toltec Mounds

    People of the Plum Bayou culture built these enormous mounds over 1,000 years ago.

  • Lanleff, France

    Temple de Lanleff

    The precise origins of this pink sandstone temple are unknown.

  • San Martín Huamelúlpam, Mexico

    Huamelulpan Archaeological Zone

    At this hillside site that was once home to a Mixtec community, you'll find ruins with a view.

  • The Maiden Tower.

    Baku, Azerbaijan

    The Maiden Tower

    This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

  • The skull rack of the Great Temple.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Skull Rack of the Great Temple

    A disquieting Aztec sculpture displays hundreds of stone skulls representing the victims of human sacrifice.

  • Shrine outside Wat Phnom.

    Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Wat Phnom

    The capital of Cambodia is named after the hill on which this ancient temple complex stands.

  • Stepped tank in Hampi.

    Hampi, India

    Stepped Tanks of Hampi

    The ancient water tanks remain some of the ruined city’s most beautiful architecture.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.