A Hill of Sacrifice Built on Ancient Taboos

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Punchbowl Crater in Hawaii is more than a resting place for fallen soldiers. Before it became a national cemetery, it was a site of human sacrifice. Today, it serves as a profound intersection of ancient spiritual history and modern military remembrance.

Translated as 'Hill of Sacrifice' in the Hawaiian language, Puowaina functioned previously as a site for human offerings to old deities by those violating specific taboos (kapu). This spiritual legacy predates the modern era, establishing the crater as a place of profound, albeit somber, significance long before the arrival of Western influence.

The transition to a military memorial was a gradual process. While a late 1890s proposal to use the crater for a city cemetery was rejected due to fears of polluting the water supply and the emotional weight of a 'city of the dead' above a living one, Congress eventually authorized a national cemetery in 1943. The site was officially offered by the governor of Hawaii, and construction began in February 1948 to provide a permanent burial site for thousands of World War II servicemen.

The cemetery's history is marked by ongoing efforts to identify the fallen. For example, in August 2001, about 70 generic 'unknown' markers for Pearl Harbor victims were replaced with specific USS Arizona (BB-39) designations. Furthermore, Operation Glory in 1954 led to the exchange of remains between the U.S. and North Korea, resulting in the burial of 416 Korean War 'unknowns' at the Punchbowl. These efforts reflect a continuous commitment to honoring the specific identities of those who served.

Today, the cemetery manages the remains of approximately 53,000 veterans and dependents from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This sacred landmark attracts many visitors, boasting a 25-bell carillon called 'Coronation' alongside a massive stone stairway inscribed with 28,788 names of Pacific military members lost or missing in action.

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