Kamakahonu and Ahuʻena Heiau: History and Stewardship

By Kai Ioh | October 2025

The 2025 IRONMAN World Championship has come and gone, leaving behind unforgettable moments here on the Big Island. Mahalo to every athlete, volunteer, and supporter who made it a success.

Historical fact update checked September 26, 2026.

If you’ve followed my blog or newsletter, you’ve likely seen the thatched-roofed temple and stone altar near the north end of Kailua Bay, in front of the King Kamehameha Hotel. It often makes a quiet cameo in footage from events like IRONMAN and the Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Race.

But this isn’t just a scenic backdrop. It is Kamakahonu, a place with deep historical and cultural importance.

Kamakahonu and Ahuʻena Heiau

In Hawaiian, Kamakahonu means “the eye of the turtle.” The Ahuʻena Heiau site records that Kamehameha I returned to Kamakahonu in 1812 and died there on May 8, 1819. The heiau was restored in the mid-1970s, and the Ahuʻena Heiau stewardship group was established in 1993. These are reasons to approach the place with respect, rather than treat it as scenery.

What you see today reflects ongoing preservation and stewardship. We can’t enter the heiau itself, but simply standing nearby, hearing the conch shell at sunset, and watching the bay change as the light softens can invite a quieter kind of attention.

Quiet Force, Then and Now

Next time you visit the Kailua Pier, take a moment to look toward the heiau. Let the rhythm of the ocean and the stillness of the stones remind you that this is a place to learn from and respect.

For historical information and visitor guidance, see Ahuʻena Heiau.

—Kai

For more local context, explore our Kailua-Kona neighborhood guide.