Highway 450, East Molokai

This grove of kukui trees is the hidden, sacred burial site of the kahuna, Lanikaula. This great and feared prophet of the 16th Century had a reputation for sorcery and prophecy. He used gods carved from the poisonwood tree found on Mauna Loa to carry out his sorcery.

Because he was such a powerful kahuna, Lanikaula knew he had enemies. Hence, he carefully hid his excrement on an offshore island called Mokuho'oniki, so that it could not be used in spells against him. Legend states that a reival sorcerer, Kawelo from Lanai, came and befriended Lanikaula. He watched as Lanikaula went to the offshore island each day in his canoe. He followed and stole some of the excrement that Lanikaula had buried and hid it in a sweet potato. When Kawela returned home, he made a great ritual fire and burned the excrement, praying for the death of his enemy. Lanikaula saw the fire and knew he was doomed. He told his sons to protect his body when he died and hide it from his enemies so that they would not capture and use his spirit. When Lanikaula dies, his sons buried his body and planted a grove of kukui trees to conceal the exact burial site.