Punchbowl Crater

 

 

(These three photos are a courtesy of Hawaii State Archives)

Puowaina, Punchbowl Crater has always been a point to visit near Honolulu in modern times. On my first test to show someone from the mainland some spots of interest to waste some time at, taking them here was my first idea.

 

Some say the hill is misinterpreted as Puowaina, Punchbowl or wine bowl. Instead it should be Pu'u o' wai na, the hill of sacrifice or offering. The slave class and those that broke certain Kapu were supposedly drowned in the water off of Kaka'ako and carried here where they would be placed on a stone that had a slit on it that would channel oxygen more efficiently to the fires under it used to burn the human sacrifice to the gods.

 

The last sacrifice supposedly happened during the reign of Kamehameha IV's time. The night his son died he put out a Kapu that no one should move about around his home or something in that manner. Later that night the fires were spotted on Punchbowl hill and an observer there suggested that it was Kamanawa II that was the executioner. Some say it was some poor sailor that was unfortunatly caught up in the old culture of the island. Chief Kamanawa was the grandfather of who was to be the last King of Hawaii, King Kalakaua. Although at the end of Kamanawa's life he was on the other end of an execution. After being tried for having his wife Kamokuiki poisoned in order to hide his adulatory. He and an accomplice became the first in Hawaii to receive a capitol punishment at Fort Honolulu, Kekuanohu. On October 20, 1840 they were hung there.

A pohaku standing on a hill inside the makai lookout with what looks like a face.

 

What must be the remains of the heiau atop Punchbowl. Scattered rocks on the hill side.

Later during the time of the overthrow it was said that the cannons placed on the hill were aimed at Iolani Palace. On the bright side there was a Kahua Holua course on the side of the hill once. Maybe even spotted in the first image I posted.