For now, place names are divided into two major categories:

Wahi - places; and wahi pana - culturally/historically significant places. The term wahi pana is often over-used. Wahi pana are special places that pana - pulsate, vibrate. Our kūpuna made those distinctions on purpose to separate the secular from the sacred. Heiau, certain significant/storied areas (hills, shorelines, rocks, ravines, etc) may be wahi pana, but not all wahi are wahi pana.

Heiau for example are wahi pana and made up of two words: Hei - to ensnare and Au - current. A heiauʻs primary function is ensnare mana in the universeʻs currents and focus it onto the site.

These pages will only add heiau and wahi pana sites that have actual names. Other wahi pana whose names have been lost, will appear only in archaeological reports via Kirsch and Walker - which will be downloadable for your perusal elsewhere on this site.

Wahi & Wahi Pana