In the 1880s there was a large stone (6 ft x 2 ft x 1 ft) in Kaukonahua Gulch that was moved to Kūkaniloko and placed in an upright position by "plantation official" (1) George Galbraith after a Hawaiian man told him it had healing powers.
Because of its phallic shape, it became known for its healing powers, and people began to leave offerings of all kinds, including what amounted to a thousand dollars each month at the peak of the worshipping craze in 1927. The money was used for improvements in the neighborhood. Rotting food attracted rats and it became a bit of a mess.
Daughters of Hawaii, caretaker of Kūkaniloko at the time, decided the stone should be moved as it had no connection to Kūkaniloko. Christian ministers said Daughters of Hawaii was encouraging "abominable worship" of a "lascivious image". Each time it was moved to Wahiawā a mile away, it would mysteriously return to Kūkaniloko on its own. While being moved the third time, the stone is said to have fallen off its truck and broken into pieces and subsequently stayed put in Wahiawā.
Another Hawaiian legend says that when two Kaua'i sisters with the supernatural ability to fly to O'ahu only at night were caught in the morning sunlight enroute, they turned to stone, fell into a stream near Kūkaniloko and became the healing stones people know today.
The Hawaiian name for the larger stone is Pōhaku Ho'ola Kino ("rock that gives health to the body") or Keanianileihua o Kalani.
For a long time people visited the stone fragments at 110 (Van James reports the address as 108) California Avenue and continued to leave offerings. The Wahiawā community petitioned to have it moved in the 1920s, but later embraced it in the 1970s when they asked for a sign to be made.
Hindus came and washed the stone in milk, honey, and adorned it in lei. They say the stone resembles Shiva and would attract millions of people if it were in India. The Sawney family (and/or Lord of the Universe Society) upgraded the concrete structure that housed the stone to marble at great expense in 1996.
Hawaiian caretakers say the stone needs rain to renew its healing powers and should be closer to the earth, exposed and not enclosed. A leaflet that used to be available at the site from the Hawaiian group encouraged people to wash the stone with rainwater, rub it with 'awa powder, but avoid rubbing it with oils. Hindus eventually modified their ritual to use coconut water, milk, and water.
Hindus and Hawaiians were not the only ones to worship the stone. The stone seemed to attract everyone in its heyday, including Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Koreans, and Portuguese.
Today the stones are no longer there! Only a photo of the stones remains in the shrine. Where did they go and why?
The marble shrine is between Ka'ala School and Olive Methodist Church on California Avenue.
If you are in the Wahiawā area, don't forget to visit Kūkaniloko, Wahiawa Botanical Garden, and Kilani Bakery. Might as well have lunch in the area, too.
(1) Star Bulletin: Van James describes him as an "Irish rancher" in his book "Ancient Sites of Oahu: A guide to Hawaiian Archaeological Sites of Interest".
Sources:
"Archaeology of Oahu" by J. Gilbert McAllister (1985 reprint of 1933 Bishop Museum Bulletin 104)
"Ancient Sites of Oahu: A guide to Hawaiian Archaeological Sites of Interest" by Van James (2010 revised edition)
https://nupepa-hawaii.com/2013/08/19/more-on-the-wahiawa-healing-stones-1927/
Star Bulletin article linked in (1)
Hon Ad article
http://oahu-sites.com/wahiawa-healing-stone/