Archaeological Assessment Report
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SCS Project Number 1247-AA-1c AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR FOUR LAND PARCELS TOTALLING 6.255-ACRES IN ENCHANTED LAKES, KAILUA AHUPUA`A, KO`OLAUPOKO DISTRICT, ISLAND OF O`AHU, HAWAI`I [TMK: (1) 4-2-083: 074, 075, 077, AND 079] Prepared by: Guerin Tome, B.A. and Robert L. Spear, Ph.D. January 2012 FINAL Prepared for: Mr. Richard Wheelock Three W Corporation 700 Bishop Street Suite 1000 Honolulu, HI 96813 ABSTRACT An archaeological study, including limited subsurface testing, was conducted on four tax map key parcels totaling 6.255-acres of land in Enchanted Lakes, Kailua Ahupua`a, Ko`olaupoko District, Island of O`ahu [TMK: (1) 4-2-083: 074, 075, 077, and 079]. The combination of a pedestrian survey and a total of fourteen mechanically excavated trenches within the project area boundaries did not reveal the presence of archaeological cultural material or archaeological sites on the ground surface or within subsurface contexts. All trenches on the lowland areas of the project area revealed the presence of water while trenches excavated on the elevated portion of the project area revealed the presence of fill matrices. Modern debris was observed along the northeastern and southeastern perimeters of the project area. Adequate documentation of the 6.255-acre project area has been completed and no further archaeological work is deemed necessary for TMK: (1) 4-2-083: 074, 075, 077, and 079. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 GEOGRAPHIC SETTING ............................................................................................................. 1 PROJECT AREA SOILS.................................................................................................... 6 PROJECT AREA VEGETATION ..................................................................................... 6 CLIMATE........................................................................................................................... 8 SETTLEMENT PATTERN AND LAND USE PERIOD.............................................................. 8 TRADITIONAL AND HISTORIC RESEARCH .............................................................. 8 PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGY WITHIN KAILUA AHUPUA`A.................................. 13 EXPECTED FINDINGS .................................................................................................. 18 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 21 FIELD METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 21 LABORATORY METHODOLOGY ............................................................................... 21 FIELDWORK RESULTS............................................................................................................. 21 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION........................................................................................... 25 RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................. 25 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 26 APPENDIX A: LAND COMMISSION AWARD DATA........................................................... A APPENDIX B: PROFILE DATA..................................................................................................B iii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: United States Geological Survey Mokapu Point Quadrangle (1998) Showing Project Area Location. ................................................................................................................ 2 Figure 2: Tax Map Key [TMK] (1) 4-2-083 Showing the Project Area Location. ....................... 3 Figure 3: Photograph of Project Area Lowland on Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:074. View to Southwest........................................................................................................................ 4 Figure 4: Photograph of Project Area Elevated Portion on Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:074. View to Northeast..................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 5: Photograph of Modern Debris on Ground Surface of Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:074. View to Northeast. .......................................................................................................... 7 Figure 6: Google Earth Image showing Group 70 International Map Shovel Excavation Locations....................................................................................................................... 19 Figure 7: Plan View Map showing Tom Nance Water Resource Engineering Vertical Boring Locations....................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 8: Google Earth Image (2011) showing Current Archaeological Survey Trench Excavations within the Project Area............................................................................. 23 iv INTRODUCTION At the request of Mr. Richard Wheelock of Three W Corporation, Scientific Consultant Services (SCS), Inc. performed an Archaeological Assessment on 6.255-acres of land in Enchanted Lakes within the ahupua`a of Kailua, Ko`olaupoko District, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`i [Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083: 074, 075, 077, and 079] (Figures 1 and 2). Fieldwork was conducted on December 2 and 3, 2011 by SCS archaeologist Guerin Tome, B.A., under the direction of the Principal Investigator Robert L. Spear, Ph.D. Archaeological work was performed in order to investigate the presence or absence of archaeological features and subsurface midden deposits, and to assess the function, age, and construction methods of those features or deposits. Initially, this project was conducted as an Archaeological Inventory Survey; however, because the results of the survey were negative for archaeological sites, the results are being presented in this report as an Archaeological Assessment. According to the City and County of Honolulu’s Real Property Tax Assessment website (www.honolulupropertytax.com) accessed on January 22, 2012, the project area is comprised of two areas containing four tax map key parcels: TMK: (1) 4-2-083:074 (3.693-acres; fee owner Three W Corporation) TMK: (1) 4-2-083:075 (1.212-acres; fee owner Three W Corporation) TMK: (1) 4-2-083:077 (1.234-acres; fee owner Three W Corporation) TMK: (1) 4-2-083:079 (0.116-acres; fee owner Three W Corporation) The combined 6.255-acre project area will be utilized for the construction of private residential structures. GEOGRAPHIC SETTING The project area is situated between 0 to approximately 30 feet (10 meters) above mean sea level and is located near the southern edge of Ka`elepulu Pond in the area called Enchanted Lakes on the windward side of Oahu. Two areas comprised of lowlands and an elevated area form the project area (Figures 3 and 4). Tax Map Keys (1) 4-2-083:074, 075, and 079 are physically connected while TMK (1) 4-2-083:077 is isolated (see Figure 2). Collectively, Tax Map Keys (1) 4-2-083:074, 075, and 079 are bordered on the west by an unnamed stream, a portion of Ka`elepulu Pond, and privately owned residential land identified as TMK (1) 4-2- 002:050; on the south by lowland pasture identified as privately owned land identified as TMK (1) 4-2-083:076; on the east by numerous, privately owned residential land parcels of TMK (1) 4-2-059; and on the north by more privately owned residential land and a portion of Akumu Street. Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:077 is bordered on the north by lowland pasture identified as privately 1 Figure 1: United States Geological Survey Mokapu Point Quadrangle (1998) Showing Project Area Location. 2 Figure 2: Tax Map Key [TMK] (1) 4-2-083 Showing the Project Area Location. 3 Figure 3: Photograph of Project Area Lowland on Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:074. View to Southwest. 4 Figure 4: Photograph of Project Area Elevated Portion on Tax Map Key (1) 4-2-083:074. View to Northeast. 5 owned land identified as TMK (1) 4-2-083:076; on the west by an unnamed stream and privately owned residential land identified as TMK (1) 4-2-002:050; on the south by a portion of Akamai Place and privately owned residential land identified as TMK (1) 4-2-059:036; and on the east by two privately owned residential land parcels identified as TMK (1) 4-2-059:034 and 035. Modern construction and household debris was observed on the ground surface of the project area along the north and east perimeters as well as several loci on the interior of Tax Map Keys 4-2-083:074 and 077 (Figure 5). Modern surface structures interpreted as a rock wall and a concrete brick pavement were observed on the ground surface within the east one-third of TMK (1) 4-2-083:074. The rock wall, constructed of concrete brick fragments and basalt cobbles, is being utilized as an east boundary wall for an ornamental and fruit tree garden (GPS Coordinates East 631027/ North 2364141). The proximity