Iliiliopae Heiau is a huge raised platform of earth and stone. It is more than 300 feet long and 100 feet wide and it is an ancient Hawaiian religious site that was once used for worship and human sacrifice. Iliiliopae Heiau is on privately owned land, so it is advised that you check with the visitors association in Kaunakakai to find out if a special permit is needed.
The heiau was used to worship Lono, the god of harvest, and Ku, the god of war. Human sacrifices were made on the eve of every full moon. Drums were beaten to call all males to the temple. Upon the priest's direction, those watching fell to the ground and the victims were brought to the platform. The victims were sacrificed by strangling them to death. They were always male and their bodies were burned after the ritual.
Nowadays the site is eerily silent. Remember that it is disrespectful to walk across the top of the heiau when visiting the site. Iliiliopae Heiau is in the east of Molokai, some 115 km east of Honolulu.
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