The Birthing Stones of Hawaii

Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, Oahu Hawaii

When I was visiting Hawaii I mentioned my interest in sacred sites to Sandra, a fellow Astrologer, who lives on the Windward side of Oahu.  She took me to the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones and  I am eternally grateful that she did.

Birthing Stones areas are an important part of Hawaiian culture, from at least the 14^th Century Ali’i (Chiefs) and their wives came to these places for the birth of their children.  It was believed that a child born at Kukaniloko and other Birthing Stone sites throughout Hawaii were assured high ranking status.  In the constant struggle for supremacy amongst chiefs of islands, it was important to give a child the best possible chance of retaining royal status. 

The stones themselves are situated in the middle of a rural area, there are no special fences or signposts, a simple sign tells you its name and that it is a sacred site.  There is a small dirt area where the vehicles are parked and a dirt track leading towards the site,  I was fortunate that  Sandra knew where to find them.  We walked up the track to the area, there were some people already at the stones.  I did not feel anything especially strong or spiritual but as I approached the stones I did feel like there was a sense of peace here.  I walked past the stones and looked at the mountains behind, Sandra said that the mountains had a profile of a pregnant woman lying down.  I could see her face and her hair, her breast, her swollen body quite clearly.

As I turned back towards the stones I was suddenly hit with a rush of energy, like goosebumps only stronger, it rushed up my legs and filled the area of my abdomen, it was amazing and the energy stayed with me and I felt quite light and happy, almost spaced out.  I meandered around the stones and touched a few, we sat on some but I did not feel any specific energy other than the tingling in the front of my legs and in my abdomen, it was as if I was grounded to the earth.  I began to feel a very strong sense of peace and also security and connection like I have not felt before, it was pure magic and I enjoyed it immensely.  There is no doubt in my mind or “being” that this was a very spiritual place indeed.

The stones had fresh flower lei’s draped over them so it was obvious that the site is maintained by someone who has a spiritual connection to them and it was nice to see that they were left largely undisturbed in their grove of trees.  Too often agriculture and development destroys such sites and sometimes tourism robs them of their special energy too.  I was happy to see that efforts were being made to restore traditional Hawaiian sites so there will be a lot more for people to experience in the future. 

As I turned and walked away the eneregy vanished when I reached the edge of the stones. 

The energy I felt was powerful, energizing rather than forceful and I felt that same energy at another place on the Big Island of Hawaii but more about that in another story.  For now I am grateful that I had the opportunity to travel physically to Hawaii and spiritually to the essence of the people who once gave birth at Kukaniloko. ©