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Place of Refuge Park

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According to the National Park Service, "Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu or one of the ancient laws against the gods could avoid an otherwise certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or pu'uhonua. They could then be absolved by a priest and free to go. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the great wall that encloses the pu'uhonua was home to several generations of powerful chiefs." The wall is visible on the beach in this photo, along with a reconstruction of an ancient Hawaiian building.