Ahole Holua Complex
S of Milolii on Ahole Bay, Milolii, HIThis is one of the best-preserved holua on Hawaii Island and within the entire state. Holua are massively constructed ramps, made of stacked stone, that were used as tracks for wooden toboggans, or sleds by the ancient Hawaiians. The flat slope was covered with grasses to make the narrow fragile sleds able to reach high rates of speed on their downward runs. Typically, and present, in this case, is a running platform along which the sledder raced before flopping down on the sled at the beginning of the slope down.
Interesting and significant here is the presence of a number of platforms constructed of stone that are located alongside the holua. These were undoubtedly for the spectators who watched the sport.
A holua of this magnitude and elegance indicates the complexity of ancient Hawaiian culture wherein large labor forces could be marshaled to produce a luxury structure dedicated to recreational use by the higher-ranking Hawaiians.
The creation of a proper slide, with its required slope (much like that of a western ski jump), the flatness of top, and proper length to ensure both sled speed and a deacceleration area, are indicative of the highly developed skills of the ancient Hawaiians in stonework engineering.
In summary, the Ahole Holua complex is of great value for interpreting this interesting recreational pursuit of the ancient Hawaiians. It also provides structural information of basic research value on the engineering techniques of ancient Hawaii.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.