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This ancient stone temple was built along the North Kohala coast by Kamehameha I from 1790-1791. It stands 224 feet long by 100 feet wide at the peak of Pu’ukohola (the hill of the whale) and is the most imposing and dramatic religious structure remaining of the ancient Hawaiians. In 1790 King Kamehameha was told by a prophet to build this heiau (temple) on top of Puukohola and dedicate it to Kuka’ilimoku, the war god by sacrificing his principal Big Island rival, Keoua Kuahu’ula. By doing so, it was said that he would conquer and unite all the islands. By 1810 the prophecy came true and Kamehameha united the islands and established the Hawaiian Kingdom.