Ka’ena Point is the westernmost tip of land on the island of O’ahu. The point can be reached on foot from either side, East (via North Shore) or Southeast (via Wai’anae Coast). In Hawaiian, Ka’ena means “the heat.” Kaena Point is the legendary Leina ka ‘Uhane or “Leaping place of souls” for recently deceased Hawaiian spirits.
Ancient Hawaiian mythology describes a colorful array of spirits and dimensions in the afterlife. A Hawaiian euphemistic term for dying was to “travel west.” On Oahu, it was a journey to Ka’ena Point, which is on the western extremity of the island. Upon death, or even during a near death experience, the soul would first travel directly to Ka’ena Point to determine if it was ready to continue.
As the newly released soul approached the point, it was met by the spirits of deceased ancestors or friends who were waiting for the soul to arrive. They might send the soul back if the death were not real or if certain earthly obligations were not fulfilled. The spirits could help revive the body if the death was not final. If the death was final, the ancestral guides would entertain the soul, comfort it, and begin leading it on its journey off the earthly plane. When the deceased soul was ready to depart, it was guided to Leina ka ‘Uhane white rock. This was where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. A big white stone on the north side of Ka’ena Point was the literal leaping place of souls into the land of po heaven.
The State of Hawaiʻi has designated the point as a Natural Reserve to protect nesting Laysan Albatrosses, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Hawaiian monk seals, and the fragile (to vehicular traffic) native strand vegetation that has been restored there.
Check out our hike to Kaena Point here or read up on our whale watching, snorkel tour with Wildside, located on the way to Kaena Point here.
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