To the side of the crowded and busy Lahaina Harbor, sits one of the most sacred stones on the Hawaiian isle of Mau’i -- the Hauola Stone. Loosely translated in English, Hauola means "to extend life and health".In the early 1400’s, the Hawaiian monarch came to Lahaina in West Maui for the consistently warm air and water near the shoreline. In fact for a short time, Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian islands during the Kamehameha reign, and the Hauola Stone was used for birthing by the ali’i (royalty).
The Hauola Stone resembles a chair with a short back, and it’s easy to see by the smoothness of the seat that hundreds of births occurred here when a royal Chiefess was ready to give birth. Her royal attendants would line both sides of the stone-like chair, and men with various royal titles would also attend to offer their encouragement and support.
A child born on the ancient and spiritual Hauola Birthing Stone would gain instant royalty status, as well as immediate status as a potential leader of the Hawaiian people. According to legend, the child would also receive divine power and skills to be used as a fearless leader.
Interestingly, when a child was born at the Hauola Birthing stone, the umbilical cords of the newborn child were immediately removed from the site and buried in a well-hidden site that was a secret known by only a few Hawaiians. Rocks were stacked to keep the rats away from the cord. Hawaiian legends said that if rats ate the cord –- Pau Piko Ka Iole -- the child would be a disgrace to the royal parents.
Every woman of royal blood was required to move quickly to the Royal Birthing Stone when about to give child birth, or the woman would forfeit the royal privileges of her expected offspring. No woman of royalty would dare give birth in a less sacred place, and each Hawaiian island often had a stone for royal birthings.
The most famous Royal Birthing Stone is on the island of O’ahu. Kukaniloko is located in the central part of the island, just off a road several miles from the well-known Dole Plantation. Kukaniloko was one of the first sites to be set aside by the State of Hawaii for its spiritual and cultural nature, and has changed very little over the years.
Royal Birthing Stones were often kapu (forbidden) when a birthing was not taking place, and the site was maintained by the High Priest of the island as his spiritual headquarters. The priest was often a descendant of the chief’s family and was a powerful leader with a wide range of influence and authority among the early Hawaiians.
Because the Hauola Stone is in a rocky area near the shoreline, it was also often used as a healing stone. In fact, in more recent times the Hauola Stone was used by those with various illnesses and sickness as it sits where fresh water from the nearby West Mau’i Mountains runs down the hillside and mixes with the salt water of the ocean. As waves washed over the person sitting in the seat, ceremonial prayers were chanted asking for health to be regained and the person renewed.
So next time you’re in Lahaina Town and near the famous Banyan Tree on Front Street, wander over to the right of the harbor. There in a small park to the side of the Pioneer Inn, you’ll see where hundreds of royal woman once gave birth.