Kohala Historical Sites State Monument in Hawi, Hawaii is home to Mookini Heiau and the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great. Mookini, one of Hawaii's oldest historical sites, is a sacrificial temple surrounded by 20 foot high stone walls. According to oral history, the temple could be up to 1,500 years old. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1962, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Kamehameha is often referred to as Hawaii's greatest king because he successfully united all of Hawaii into one kingdom. He was born in 1758, supposedly as Halley's Comet passed by, and his birthplace is marked by a rock at the site.
Visitors must travel down a dirt road to reach the Kohala Historical Sites State Monument. Rain can make the road difficult to navigate, so vehicles with four-wheel drive are recommended after rainstorms. The monument is open every day except Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there is no entrance fee.