When you visit Hawaii’s Big Island, we highly recommend you plan a stop at Puuhonua o Honanaunau National Historical Park. The oceanfront grounds are full of Hawaiian history and wonder.
Many people refer to Puuhonua o Honanaunau National Historical Park as the Place of Refuge. In ancient Hawaiian culture, if you broke a kapu (law) such as catching a forbidden fish during a certain replenishing season or if a particular caste of chief’s shadow touched you — you could be sentenced to death. However, if you could reach a puuhonua (place of refuge), like Puuhonua o Honanaunau, a Hawaiian priest could forgive your crime.
With the amazing history at Puuhonua o Honanaunau, we think it would make a fantastic site to set a movie about ancient Hawaiian culture. I know I would be glued to the screen with a chance to imagine what life was like during the times when kapus were enforced.
Andy use our photos and video footage to create this pretend movie trailer depicting the potential drama from such a historical place.
(Email subscribers: please use this link to access this Puuhonua o Honanaunau video.)
Would you also like to see a movie depicting ancient Hawaiian history and culture set at Puuhonau o Honaunau?
Sheila Beal
