A Pu'uhonua was a place of refuge where those who broke a Kapu (a law) could be absolved of their guilt if they could get past the armed guards surrounding the area. Once inside they would undergo a ritual lasting several hours or more and then be free to leave. All of the islands had at least one Pu'uhonua. The big island is thought to have had six. The area of the sanctuary is sealed off by an "L-shaped" Great Wall which is 10 feet high and built of black lava rock boulders. The picture is taken outside of the Pu'uhonua, looking west. The wall can be seen on the middle left of the picture. At the northern end of the wall is the Hale O Keawe heiau..... a sacred place. On the beach is an outrigger canoe made in the traditional Hawaiian fashion from a hollowed out Koa log. Leaf mats protect the hull form the sun.

 
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