The Power of Healing: Hawaii’s City of Refuge

Imagine if there was a place you were banished to for committing certain transgressions, forced into solitude until a decision was made regarding your guilt or innocence. In today’s society, it seems cruel and unusual.

However, this was considered a gift of mercy during the Biblical years and beyond. Being cast to such an area was considered an act of grace – considering people were put to death for things that barely warrant a slap on the wrist in today’s society.

Find Your Healing Refuge in Hawaii

Believe it or not, a place like this exists. Maybe it’s not in the same context as in the times of Jesus Christ and other Biblical histories. Still, the physical location is undoubtedly alive and well, and history contends that the actions described above did indeed take place for people who found themselves there.

It’s known as the City of Refuge, one of the dozens of incredible recreational and historical sites in Hawaii containing an amazing legend behind its existence. Some of these places have a murky past, with not much more than word of mouth folklore to pass on their history.

However, this location has a well-documented history that includes thousands of years and many different eras in the history of our world.

What Is the City of Refuge Hawaii?

The City of Refuge is a place where people can go to escape the consequences of their actions. The City of Refuge is also known as Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the island of Hawaii. It is located near Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.

The park’s name refers to an ancient Hawaiian law allowing fugitives accused of severe crimes to seek sanctuary there until they were absolved of their crime or died through sacrifice or banishment.

So, what is a city of refuge? The biblical concept of refuge comes from Exodus 21:12-14, where it tells us that if you kill someone and then flee to one of these cities, you will be protected by the city’s elders until they decide whether you are guilty. These cities were established throughout Israel as havens for those who wanted to escape punishment for their crimes.

The word “refuge” is also related to the French word “refugie,” which means “a person who flees danger.”

A Brief History of the City of Refuge and Hawaii

The city of refuge concept was brought to Hawaii by King Kamehameha I when he moved the capital from Lahaina to Honolulu. The king built a temple in the center of Honolulu known as Pu’ukohola Heiau, which was a place for worship and sacrifice.

A kapu (a Hawaiian no-trespass of sorts) was placed on the site in 1791, prohibiting anyone from entering except for certain priests who were allowed in to perform rituals for those seeking forgiveness.

In 1810, King Kamehameha II moved the capital from Honolulu back to Lahaina, where he built another temple called Kalani Akua. Kalani Akua was also used for religious ceremonies and sacrifices but was never completed because of a civil war between King Kamehameha III and his sister Queen Kalama.

After Kalama’s death in 1839, King Kamehameha III decided that he wanted to build an even bigger temple than what his father had created. He chose Pu’ukohola as the location and began construction immediately after his coronation ceremony in 1845.

The new temple would be dedicated to Pele and Ku, who were believed to be two different manifestations of the same goddess. This idea was based on Hawaiian folklore, which stated that Ku had been transformed into Pele after being killed by her husband, Wakea.

A Sacred Place of Redemption and Renewal in Hawaii

He carved out an area where criminals could go to avoid prosecution, and he appointed two High Chiefs (Ali’i Nui) to govern this area. This was called Oahu Pahoa, or “The Great Wall.” Kamehameha III’s son Kalakaua later changed the name to Oahu Hale, which means “The Great House” or “The Great Temple.”

The city of refuge in Hawaii is also where the first Christian missionaries landed in 1820. The missionaries were led by Hiram Bingham and his wife Sybil, who was sent to the Hawaiian Islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Today there are only two buildings that remain from the Castle’s time: a house built in 1876 that has been restored by the Friends of Historic Preservation and is open to visitors every Sunday afternoon; and the Kalele Theater, which was built by volunteers in 1976 when they were unable to contract a company to complete the work.

This sacred site is currently considered the most significant Hawaiian archaeological site and is called “the best-preserved and least disturbed ancient Hawaiian religious site in the state.”

Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and Healing in Hawaii

Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, located in the town of Honaunau on Hawaiʻi Island, protects and preserves one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Hawaiian Islands. The park was established to preserve Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and healing in Hawaii, the location of the above-mentioned City of Refuge.

The pu’uhonua (“place of refuge”) is located on the south shore of the Bay of Islands. This area was once a central hub for canoe traffic between Hawai’i Island and other islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of only five such sites still found today in Hawaii. The others are located at the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai; Niu Valley on Niihau; Naha Pohakuloa; and Waipio Valley on Hawai’i Island.

The Spirit of Forgiveness and Recovery from Addictive Behaviors

Many outsiders aren’t aware of the spirit of forgiveness in Hawaii. However, ask some of the locals, and they’ll tell you it’s as natural as any physical being standing in front of you.

This spirit is considered one of many gods or spirits from antiquity birthed from the waters or volcanoes of Hawaii, whom many of the earlier tribes worshipped. Hawaiian tribal history claims that the spirit of forgiveness was available to anyone who sought a second chance from their transgressions. Certain mystical locations throughout the islands can directly connect to the spirit of forgiveness.

While we can’t provide actual proof of the existence of the spirit of forgiveness in the context mentioned above, at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in the power of forgiveness regarding substance abuse history. When you seek to mend any wrongdoing from your past and admit to your crimes, individuals you victimized in any way must forgive you (according to legend).

What’s even more important for recovery is learning how to forgive yourself. There’s no need to harbor ill feelings or continuously batter yourself mentally for mistakes you’ve made in the past.

Letting go and learning to forgive is one of the first and most significant steps to recovery. You’ve already been broken down by substance abuse – recovery is the journey towards building yourself back up.

Finding Your Own City of Refuge Through Treatment

Although the City of Refuge was a physically existent place with a storied past, many legendary tales and fables are passed down through religious texts or word of mouth that are symbolic. They’re generally symbolic of ordeals we go through spiritually and give us examples of how to overcome adversity and find peace.

Finding your own City of Refuge could mean finding a fortress of solitude that allows you to reflect and do some deep, reflective thinking. It could also mean finding a special place that helps you forgive your past or things others have done to you that might have triggered you to use.

One of your primary objectives at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab is finding your own mental City of Refuge and putting yourself into a place of mental wellness. We offer multiple ways to do this, including outdoor therapy.

Luxury Rehab and Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy is a form of outdoor adventure activity that can be used to treat many conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This therapy can be beneficial for people with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, and challenges with substance abuse.

The island state of Hawaii is one of the most popular locations for adventure therapy programs. There are various options available for those who want to experience the thrill of adventure while enjoying the beautiful scenery that this tropical paradise has to offer.

Hawaii’s Big Island is home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes, including the Kilauea Volcano, which is currently erupting. Visitors can hike through lava flows to see how volcanic eruptions affect nature. Hiking trails are available at every level of difficulty, so everyone can enjoy exploring these unique environments.

On Maui’s Haleakala volcano, visitors can hike up 10,000 feet above sea level before sunrise or sunset to view stars in their full glory while still visible during those hours. On Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, hikers can trek along cliffs that rise hundreds of feet above crashing waves below them while enjoying breathtaking views of nearby islands.

How Far Is the City of Refuge from Exclusive Hawaii Rehab?

Depending on which route you travel, the City of Refuge is only about 75 miles from our facilities. This is an easy day trip to and from the treatment center with plenty of time at the site.

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Individualized Client Care and the Benefits of Holistic Hawaii Rehabs

Holistic healing is the healing of self. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehabs, this is the true definition of healing from substance abuse.

How else can you fully recover without taking care of every aspect of yourself, including the mind, body, and soul? Rest assured at our facilities, there’s no cookie-cutter treatment used, and all of our clients are thoroughly assessed to ensure they receive the perfect treatment plan based on their needs.

Find Your Recovery Using Non-12 Step Methods at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Like the 12-step programs, specific treatment models are outdated and often ineffective. Groundbreaking treatment models have become available throughout the last decade, but these models are only as beneficial as we allow them to be. Shackling yourself through the strictures of narrow-minded treatment practices doesn’t allow growth – and growth is central to healing. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we’re prepared to grow together and help you find your City of Refuge. To find out about availability and becoming a client, contact our Intake Coordination staff today.