7 min walk
Waimea Bay
- Must see
- Activity
Activity · Honolulu
Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau
- Today
- Open today, 09:00 – 17:30
- Visit duration
- 45 min Editorial visit time estimate
- Price
- Free for per person · Standard admission
Plan your visit.
About Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau
Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau is the largest heiau, a Hawaiian religious site or temple, on Oʻahu, covering almost 2 acres on the North Shore above Waimea Valley. It may have been built in the 1600s; in 1795, after Kamehameha I conquered Oʻahu, his high priest Hewahewa held ceremonies here, and the site was used until the traditional religion was abolished in 1819. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962, when the 4-acre property was placed under the Hawaii Division of State Parks.
Checked 2026-11-10 · Source
What's inside
The heiau was built as a series of three walled enclosures with stacked rock walls 3 to 6 feet high and stone-paved interiors; the upper, eastern enclosure appears to be the oldest. It sits on a ridge with a wide view over Waimea Valley and the northern shoreline of Oʻahu, and signal fires here are reported to have linked it with the heiau at Wailua on Kauaʻi. State Parks asks visitors to look at the site from outside the walls and not to enter it, to avoid damaging the walls and paving.
Checked 2026-11-10 · Source
Season and crowds
The state historic site is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, according to the Hawaii Division of State Parks, and there is no entrance fee. It is listed among the North Shore historic sites of Oʻahu's state parks, on a ridge above Waimea Valley. Visit during the opening hours and check the Division of State Parks page for park notices before you go, as the division posts closures and updates there.
Checked 2026-11-10 · Source
Common questions
Is there an entrance fee at Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau?
No. There is no entrance fee; the site is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Can you walk inside the heiau?
No. State Parks asks visitors to observe the site from outside the walls so the walls and paving are not damaged.
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Source: OpenStreetMap contributors ·