In 1824, Kaahumanu (1768-1832) ordered the destruction of all vestiges of the old Hawaiian religion on Kauai by burning wooden idols and tearing down heiau, including Kauai’s largest heiau, Malae Heiau, located near the mouth of the Wailua River.
Malae Heiau was further desecrated during the 1830s, when Deborah Kapule (c.1798-1853) had it converted into cattle pens.
Thereafter, for many years, it remained hidden by dense brush in a Lihue Plantation sugarcane field.
Then, during the 1990s, Na-Kahu-Hikina-A-Ka-La (Keepers of Hikinaakala Heiau), an organization dedicated to preserving Native Hawaiian cultural sites, obtained curatorship of Malae Heiau from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Work on restoring Malae Heiau by members of Na-Kahu-Hikina-A-Ka-La began in 2000 under direction of a state archeologist.
Today, Malae Heiau is clear of brush and portions of its stone walls have been repaired.
According to Hawaiian legend, Malae Heiau was built by Menehune, a mythical race of people who formed a long line and passed stones for its structure from Makaweli to Wailua.
Yet, there are those who believe the Menehune were an actual race of people.
In fact, a census taken in 1820 revealed that 65 Menehune were living in Wainiha Valley, Kauai.
Be that as it may, archaeologists estimate that Malae Heiau was built by Hawaiians prior to AD 1200.
The heiau covers nearly 2 acres.
Its outer walls are 7 to 10 feet high and 8 feet wide, and its four corners are buttressed with 13-foot walls.
Malae Heiau was a luakini heiau, in which blood sacrifices were offered by kahuna to the gods.
An altar once stood in its center.
Around the altar was a stone ledge where people sat.
Also, kahuna at Malae Heiau and at Poliahu Heiau, located upriver near Opaekaa Falls, were in visual and audio contact.
What’s more, kahuna at Puuomahuka Heiau, Oahu, could see smoke curling from fires at Malae Heiau and know when to synchronize religious services with Kauai.
In 1991, retired architect and Kauai resident Francis Warther speculated that Malae Heiau was built where kahuna could observe the constellation Pegasus at its highest point in the heavens.
