Just why the high priest of the Molokai king had selected the rise below Iliili-opae temple was evident when the altar and oracle tower were planned.
The altar with all its sacred fittings was placed at the east end of the great platform area.
The east end of the platform was more than 20 feet off the ground and the three tiers, required for the platform, placed the sacred area in a high position.
The effect was dramatic. The audience, assembled on the platform below the altar and on the open ground surrounding the heiau, could plainly see the ceremonies being performed on the altar.
The altar abutted the ridge Mapulehu, which acted as a sounding board for the voices of the priests in prayer and chant. The voices reverberated against Mapulehu so that they were carried to the people outside the heiau.
VALUE OF ACOUSTICS
The high priest who planned the altar fittings fully understood the value of good acoustics. He placed the anuu, oracle tower, to the right near the Mapulehu Ridge.
The oracle tower was a tall wooden structure, 24 feet high and 18 feet square, from which the priest announced the oracles, or prophecies at the close of certain ceremonies.
He climbed to the top platform of the tower and threw his voice against the Mapulehu Ridge like a ventriloquist and the people thought they were hearing the real voice of god.
The main portion of the temple was dedicated to the worship of the great god Ku, so a special thatched house was built for Ku and in it was placed the image of the Moi, principal god who guarded the temple itself.
This house was called Mana (sacred).
Other houses were for the sacred drums used during the services, the king and the priests.
PLACE OFFERINGS
Standing before the Mana house was a high shelf-like structure, the lele. On the lele were placed offerings to the god Ku.
The lele was large enough to hold a human sacrifice and two pigs.
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| The tall tower is an example of an "Anu'u". Also, the smaller tower to the right is an example of a "Lele. (Illustration 82. Interior of a large luakini at Waimea, Kaua'i, drawn by John Webber on Cook's third voyage in 1778.) |
Behind the altar were built a cook house in which pigs were built for the ceremonies and a house to keep the paraphernalia of the priests.
The space in front of the altar was marked off by an ornamentation on which images of guardian gods were placed. This ornamentation consisted of two semi-circle low platforms placed side by side.
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