Explore Haleki’i-Pihana Heiau: Maui’s Ancient Temples

The Haleki’i-Pihana Heiau are two significant ancient Hawaiian temples located in Wailuku, Maui. Hawaiians built these sacred worship sites in the 13th century as important religious and political centers for the Hawaiian people, as Charles and Genie recently discovered on an historical tour of central Maui. www.tonysmaui.com . Today, the heiau are off the beaten path, but well worth a walk up to the top.

Hawaiians gathered at the Haleki’i Heiau, which means “House of Images,” for religious ceremonies and rituals. They heard priests communicate with the gods and perform sacred rites. Priests conducted marriages, and prayed for expectant mothers such as when Queen Keopuolani, wife of Kamehameha the Great, was born here. The heiau was part of the royal court of Kahekili, Maui’s last ruling chief.

The Pihana Heiau, was a community gathering place for religious and political activities. It was part of the royal court of Kahekili, Maui’s last ruling chief. The chiefs, kahuna priests and district managers made important decisions here. People bought their offerings to the gods to this heiau to ensure prosperity and protection for the community. Pihana Heiau was dedicated to Ku, the Hawaiian god of war. This heiau was a luakini, a type of heiau used for war-related rituals and human sacrifices to honor Ku and seek his favor in battles. The last human sacrifice at Pihana Heiau on Maui occurred after Kamehameha’s victory at the battle of ʻIao in 1790.

Together, these heiau provide a glimpse into the spiritual places and cultural practices of ancient Hawaiians. They are now preserved as historical sites, open to the public, allowing visitors such as Charles and Genie to learn about and appreciate as part of the rich heritage of Hawaii.

Book your historical tour from Tonys Tropical Tours on Maui today. Make your time on Maui more meaningful and significant.

The History of Camp Maui: Home of the Fighting Fourth

Here are Matt and Janet at a stop where we visit the Fourth Marine Division Memorial Park in Haiku, Maui.

The “Fighting Fourth” lived at Camp Maui during World War II. Located near Haiku on the slopes of Haleakalā, Camp Maui was a training and rest area for over 20,000 Marines and sailors from 1944 to 1945 as they prepared for and recovered from important operations on Roi Namur, Tinian, Saipan and most famously, Iwo Jima. In these four operations, the Division suffered a total of 17,722 battle casualties, with 3,298 killed or died of wounds and 14,424 wounded.

It is sobering to visit the park today, where families celebrate birthdays under its pavilions, and children romp and squeal as they explore the play spaces. Eighty years earlier, on the same ground, Marines and Sailors living there, anticipated combat operations, trained hard, wrote letters home, and did their best to prepare for an uncertain future.

Visit the camp of the 4th Marine Division, where the “Maui Marines.” trained before fighting on Kwajalein , Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima

Swapping the Azores for Maui- How the Portuguese Made Good in Their Trade

Allow me to introduce you to Mary and Clara, two fun ladies who enjoyed a tour last week.

Visiting the Portuguese Pavillion at Kepaniwai Heritage Park.

Allow me to introduce you to Mary and Clara, two fun ladies who enjoyed a tour on Maui last week. After visiting the Iao Valley, we stopped at the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens and snapped a pic in front of the lovely Portuguese pavilion.

This pavilion commemorates the approximately sixteen thousand Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii in the early 1900s.

Facing a shortage of available farmland and an uncertain future, many Portuguese opted to leave the Azores Islands in the Atlantic, bring their families to Hawaii and start a new life. They worked in the sugarcane fields as laborers, some eventually becoming managers. On Maui, many settled in the towns of Paia and Makawao, building businesses and contributing to the fabric of Maui. By the end of the 20th century, proof of their success was the two men of Portuguese ethnicity were elected mayor of Maui: Elmer Cravalho (1969 to 1979), and Hannibal Tavares, from 1979 to 1991.

Enhance your time on Maui with an historical tour and learn about Maui’s varied history at places like Kepanawai Heritage Park! Please visit www.tonysmaui.com to make your reservation for a private tour. Call or text 808-500-1349 with questions. You can make your reservation by phone / text as well.

Also, if you are so inclined, please help publicize us by FOLLOWING this Facebook page. Mahalo for your help and support!

Also, if you are so inclined, please help publicize us by FOLLOWING Tonys Tropical Tours on Maui on Facebook . Mahalo for your help and support!

The History of Paradise

Tony’s Tropical Tours on Maui! 

Maui is a vibrant paradise, adorned with palm trees and caressed by tropical breezes. Visitors and residents value its delicious cuisines, stunning topography, scenic hikes, wonderful weather, and diverse water activities. But, to truly appreciate Maui one must understand its people and their history.

Tony’s Tropical Tours on Maui introduces you to the history of the diverse communities and people that have shaped Maui over the last 250 years. Take a three-hour private car journey through Maui and its past, guided by a thoughtful historian. Visit important landmarks, and deepen your understanding of Maui’s people, cultures, and the triumphs and trials they’ve faced. Whether you are visiting Maui for the first time or live on the Island, think of the tour as a bridge connecting you to a new understanding of the many people who have called Maui “home.”