Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

Heiau, Mapulehu, southeast Molokaʻi, the largest heiau on Molokaʻi and said to be the oldest on the island. It is a platform-type heiau, 286 by 87 feet, and 11 to 22 feet high; it was used for human sacrifice. (Summers, Site 200.) Stones for the heiau were allegedly brought by Menehune, passing them hand-to-hand from Wailau Valley. Several legends concern the partial destruction of the heiau. In one (HM 134–135), the two sons of the kahuna, Kamalō, were killed for playing on temple drums in the heiau. Kamalō sought the aid of the shark god Kauhuhu, who caused a storm to destroy the heiau and wash all the people out to sea except Kamalō and his household. An old name for the heiau is ʻIliʻili-ʻOpoe. ʻOpoe is said to be the name of a stream tributary to Wailau, from whence the Menehune brought the stones (ʻiliʻili). They insisted on being paid with whole iʻa (seafood) rather than with portions and were therefore paid with shrimps (ʻōpae). Still another interpretation is ʻIliʻili-o-Pae (pebbles of [Chief] Pae).