► Molokai's Iliili-Opae - 6: Sacrifices

Note: My collection of clippings did not include the heading date on this particular article.

Honolulu Star Bulletin.  January (?) 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor  


     The story of the construction of the great Iliili-Opae Heiau at Mapulehu on Molokai was told and retold by word of mouth for  many generations until written down in 19th century.

     In the retelling, each generation of Hawaiians embellished the story with certain miraculous details.

     The modern can reconstruct the story without miracles.

THE STONES
     The great stones for the foundations and walls probably came from Mapulehu Ridge and the site itself.

     The rectangular platform is built against the ridge its full length. Much material must have been exposed in digging the excavation required for it.

     Certain stones, such as those used for the altar, may have come from Wailau.

LONG LINE
     The story of the people standing in a line across the mountain to Wailau on the north beach may have grown out of the continuous lines of people moving back and forth across the mountain to bring the waterworn pebbles for the paving.

     The story of the people being fed on a single shrimp may have grown out of the fact that the pebbles for the paving called iliili were found in the Wailau Stream where the people also found the fresh water shrimps.

ASSOCIATION
     The shrimps and the pebbles became associated and the temple derived its name, pebble shrimp, from the association.

     The construction work was accompanied at certain intervals by religious services and by human sacrifices. The number of sacrifices would live in the memory of the people for many generations.

     Human sacrifices were needed at the bottom of the four corners of the great walls.


PROTECTION
     These sacrifices protected the walls and insured their endurance against earthquakes, floods and other disasters.

     The rocks were fitted together without mortar so that they have stood hundreds of years through violent earthquakes.

     It was after the foundation work was completed that the great number of human sacrifices were required.

NEXT: Temple Fittings

He ninau...

I have some questions to put out there:  Were those people who were sacrificed of the Kauwa people? Were there Kauwa on Molokai and on every island? If not Kauwa, how was a person selected for sacrifice?