Hauola Stone

For centuries, this unusual chair-shaped stone was held sacred to native Hawaiians, and it is one of the most famous of several royal “birthing stones” across the Hawaiian Islands. Birthing stones get their name from an ancient Hawaiian practice among royals of giving birth while reclined on sacred stones, as they believed this would bestow good fortune upon the child. In the event that the pregnant woman couldn’t get to the stone in time for the baby’s delivery, that baby’s royal birthright would be forfeit! Today, getting atop the stone (still considered sacred to many native Hawaiians) is prohibited for preservation purposes.