If you were just passing by, you might think it’s a large rock sitting in front of the Hilo Public Library on Hawaii’s Big Island. But the Naha Stone symbolizes - many believe it’s directly a part of - a long stretch of the Hawaiian Islands’ tumultuous history.
Known locally as the Pohaku Naha, it’s been estimated at various times to weigh anywhere from 500 to 6,500 pounds. Most certainly it dates to a time in the 1700s, when the islands were ruled by separate chiefs and conflict among them - as well as the arrival of Captain Cook in 1779 - was threatening their existence. The stone, owned by members of the naha - one of the classes of family royalty carefully handed down for centuries through verbal chants - could only be moved by one man who would eventually unite the islands.
The “man” who eventually moved the stone - flipped it completely over, in fact - was King Kamehameha I, who was really a boy of about 14 at the time. His leadership and strength of character led to his victory in the Wars of Conquest, and in 1810 the Hawaiian Islands were united under his leadership.
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Things to know:
Region: Hawaii Big Island
Average temperature: Low 71.2 degrees, high 77.3 degree F.
Dates and Times: Naha Stone is free and rests in front of the Nilo Public Library.
Extra Stops: Four statues celebrating King Kamehameha I are on display in Hilo and North Kohala on Hawaii’s Big Island, in downtown Honolulu on Oahu and in Washington, D.C. Be sure to stop at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on Kona, the most complete restoration of an ancient Hawaiian religious sanctuary in Hawaii, and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site for its amazing ancient petroglyphs.
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