Ulupo Heiau

Ulupo Heiau is one of the oldest on the island, already abandoned by the time Kamehameha I conquered Oahu in 1795. Some legends credit menehune (mythical people of Hawaii, similar to pixies or trolls) with the construction, which confirms its antiquity more than its craftsmen.

The Kailua area may be the oldest settlement on the island. When the first Hawaiians arrived, they would have been able to sail into a bay where the marsh now stands. When the site was built, it would have been surrounded by large taro fields.

After those days of construction and cultivation, the heiau was neglected. They used the area for crops, such as sugarcane and rice, truck farming and later for cattle.

In 1954, the area became a territorial park and is now a Hawaii state historic site. Restoration efforts in the 1960s resulted in it being listed on the National and Hawaii Registers of Historic Places. Local civic groups continue to care for the site.

If you’d like to visit Ulupō Heiau State Historic Site, you’ll find it behind the YMCA at 1200 Kailua Road. (You won’t see the signs until you’ve already parked and walked to the clearing.)

There is no charge to visit, and you’ll likely spend a few minutes here.