Sledding in Hawaii?
February 17th, 2009 by algulick
Yes, that’s right- it’s called Holua, the ancient Hawaiian art of sledding!
Holua was a popular sport and spiritual rite in Hawaii for many centuries before being outlawed by missionaries in the 1825. Islanders constructed stone ramps — some over a mile long — on steep hillsides, before hurling themselves down the slides on 12-foot-long by six-inch-wide sleds made of uhi uhi or mamane wood and lashed together with olona fibers. They usually did not come to a stop until they reached the shoreline. According to sources, they could get up to 50 miles an hour!
The Big Island has over 69 slides, including an elaborate 1.2 mile course in Keauhou called the Royal Holua Slide located just above Kanaloa-at-Kona Resort and can still be viewed from the Kona Country Club Championship Golf Course! The slide was used for the sport of holua (sledding) as well as to transport canoe hulls down to the bay for final carving and finishing. The slide is accessible by foot from Ali’i Drive opposite the golf clubhouse entrance.
Check out this footprint in time by day and then come home to one of my oceanfront units at Kanaloa-at-Kona where you can experience a golden sunset, feel the warm Kona trades and sip a cold, flavorful Mai Tai on the lanai.
I’ve got 2 oceanfront units that I am offering at unprecedented prices; unit 3702 – 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom (sleeps 6), A/C, furnished with all the amenities you could imagine and unit 3403 – 1 bedroom / 2 bathroom (sleeps 4) – all amenities!! The resort offers championship golf minutes away, gated security, 3 pools, hot tubs, night-lighted tennis courts, free WI-FI, barbeques, parking….etc.
Feel free to contact us anytime with any questions!
Thank you!