a pre-Christian place of worship or shrine, made of either elaborate stone platforms or simple earth terraces

listen] - pre-Christian place of worship, shrine

(hey-ow): Ancient Hawaiian religious shrine

pre-Christian place of worship, shrine. Some heiau were elaborately constructed stone platforms, and others were simple earth terraces. Many are preserved today.

A heiau is a Hawaiian temple comprised of a stone platform with various structures built upon it. The structures on the platform were used to house priests, sacred ceremonial drums, sacred items, and cult images representing the gods associated with that particular temple. There were also altars on which to offer sacrifices (plant, animal and human).