PROCEEDINGS of the BOUNDARY COMMISSION (1863 to 1927)
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GOVERNMENT SURVEY: PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION (1863 to 1927) One of the most significant sources of documentation pertaining to traditional and customary practices on lands of the Kaua‘ula-Lahaina region, is the set of records collected between 1863 to 1927, as a part of the court proceedings of the Boundary Commission. The records include testimonies of elder kama‘äina—some born in the early 1800s, and were recipients of kuleana in the Mähele, or were the direct descendants of the awardees. As a result, the descriptions of sites and practices associated with various lands given below, are of interest to this study. In 1862, a Commission of Boundaries (the Boundary Commission) was established in the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to legally set the boundaries of ahupua‘a that had been awarded to Ali‘i, Konohiki, and foreigners during the Mähele. By this time, land owners and their lessees were petitioning to have the boundaries of their respective lands—which were the foundation of plantation and ranching interests on Maui— settled. As a part of the program to settle boundaries, privately held lands of the Kaua‘ula-Lahaina vicinity were described by elder kama‘äina before the Commissioners. The primary informants for the boundary descriptions were old native residents of the areas being discussed. Some were kuleana owners, others had been Konohiki of the lands at some point in time. The native witnesses usually spoke in Hawaiian, and in some instances, their testimony was translated into English and transcribed as the proceedings occurred. Other testimonies have remained in Hawaiian, untranslated to the present- day. The narratives cited below, present in their entirety, the testimonies given by native residents, or those given by surveyors who recorded the boundaries based on the testimony of native guides. The testimonies include descriptions of the land, extending from ocean fisheries to the mountain peaks. They also describe various traditional practices, including: travel, land use, and changes in the landscape witnessed during their life time; and also describe various features, such as ‘auwai, walls and agricultural plots. As a result of a dispute between Trustees of the Bishop Estate, the Territory of Hawaii and owners of the Pioneer Mill Company, lengthy hearings were recorded for the ahupua‘a of Paunau—the section known as “Paunau uka,” identified as beginning at L.C.A. 6541 to Haia at “Keoihuihu,” and then running to the mountain ridge with Wailuku and the boundary with Kaua‘ula Valley. The dispute focused over title to the land and infringements on the premises and water of Lahainaluna School. It was ultimately settled in the favor of the Territory and Pioneer Mill Company. During the combined proceedings, a number of maps were referenced. Among these were maps prepared by George F. Wright and M.D. Monsarrat. The Wright and Monsarrat work was based on: (1) early maps of the region (generally surveyed by W.P. Alexander, S.E. Bishop and D. Baldwin); (2) testimonies of witnesses in proceedings before the Commissioner of Boundaries; and (3) the results of their own field work. Map No. 3 (viewed in the collection of the Hawaii State Survey Division) of the Pioneer Mill Company, dated September 1916, titled “Kauaula Valley, Lahaina, Maui,” was submitted as a part of the Boundary Commission proceedings, and covers the primary lands of interest to the present study. Copies of this oversize map, as well as other large maps of the region were provided to participants in the oral history interviews conducted as a part of the present study. Copies were also provided to Mäkila Land Company and Hale Pa‘i–The Lahaina Restoration Foundation. Readers please note that the original Hawaiian texts are given in their entirety below, with excerpts translated by Maly for this study. Translated texts are identified by paragraphs set in block indentations below the original Hawaiian texts. He Wahi Mo‘olelo no Kaua‘ula a me Lahaina i Maui 1109 Kumu Pono Associates LLC MaKaua111a (060107) Records of the Boundary Commission – Lahaina District, Maui Halakaa Ahupuaa District of Lahaina, Island of Maui Boundary Commission – Maui, Volume No. 1, pages 74-76 Keena Kiaaina o Maui, Lahaina Oct. 1, 1875 Office of the Governor of Maui, Lahaina Oct. 1, 1875 No. 22 Hooponopono ana i na palena o ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa ma ka Apana o Lahaina, Mokupuni o Maui. To settle the boundaries of the Ahupuaa of Halakaa, in the District of Lahaina, Island of Maui. Ma ka la 10 o Okatoba M.H. 1873, ua waiho mai ka Moi Wahine Ema Kaleleonalani i kana palapala noi no ka hooponopono ana i ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa ma ka Apana o Lahaina, Mokupuni o Maui o ko Hawaii Pae Aina. On the 10th day of October, in the year 1873, Queen Emma Kaleleonalani presented her application for settlement of the Ahupuaa of Halakaa in the District of Lahaina, Island of Maui, Hawaiian Islands. Noho ka Aha Komisina Palena Aina o Maui e hoolohe no ke noi a Emma Kaleleonalani no ka hooponopono ana i na palena o ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa, ma Lahaina, Mokupu- ni o Maui. E like me ka mea i hoolahaia ma ka “Nupepa Kuokoa” Helu 37, Buke XIV. The hearing of the Commissioner of Boundaries for Maui was called to hear the application of Emma Kaleleonalani, for the settling of the boundaries of the Ahupuaa of Halakaa, Lahaina, Island of Maui. As advertised in the “Kuokoa Newspaper,” Number 37, Book XIV. L. Aholo ka loio o ka mea noi. L. Aholo Attorney for the applicant. L. Aholo (Hoike), (No ka mea oia ka mea nana i ana), hoohi- kiia a olelo mai, mamuli o na ninau a ke Komisina. He Wahi Mo‘olelo no Kaua‘ula a me Lahaina i Maui 1110 Kumu Pono Associates LLC MaKaua111a (060107) L. Aholo (Witness), (He is the one who conducted the survey), sworn and stated, to questions of the Commissioner. Ma Lahaina nei au e noho nei. He kakauolelo au na ke Kiaaina, a he Ana Aina no hoi i kahi manawa. Na‘u i ana ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa, mamuli o ka Poepoe (k.) a me ka Keikialoha Kuhikuhi ana ma kau wahi. I reside in Lahaina. I am the secretary of the Governor, and I am sometimes a surveyor. I surveyed the Ahupuaa of Halakaa, as shown at various places by Poepoe (k.) and Keikialoha. Poepoe (k.) (Hoike), Hoohikiia a olelo mai – O Poepoe ko‘u inoa, ma Lahaina nei, au e noho nei. Ua kamaaina au i ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa. Na‘u i kuhikuhi na palena ia Aholo o na aina e pili ana ma ka aoao ma Kaanapali o Halakaa oia ma Puunau 3, Polanui, Wainee, a me Kuia o na aina hoi ma ka aoao ma Olowalu o Halakaa, oia na Puehuehu, Puunau, Polaiki, Polanui, a mauka o kahawai o Haleu. Poepoe (k.) (Witness), Sworn and stated – Poepoe is my name, I reside in Lahaina. I am familiar with the Ahupuaa of Halakaa. I showed the boundaries to Aholo, the lands which adjoin it on the Kaanapali side of Halakaa are Puunau 3, Polanui, Wainee, and Kuia; the lands along the Olowalu side of Halakaa are Puehuehu, Puunau, Polaiki, Polanui, and above it is the stream of Haleu. Ninau a ke Komisina. (In response to) Question of the Commissioner. He kamaaaina au no Halakaa ua noho Konohiki au no Halakaa i ka wa o ka aina ia Kalanimoewai. Pau ko‘u noho Konohiki ana, lilo ka aina ia Kauliokamoa. Mahope kuai o Kauliokamoa me Kaeo. Mahope noho Konohiki iho o Ihihi. Na kamaaina kahiko i kuhikuhi mai iau, oiai ko‘u wa e noho konohiki aina. Na ko‘u haku i kauoha mai e nana i na palena. O Nawaa ka inoa o ko‘u mea nana i alakai ua make. O ka aina mauka loa mai o Halakaa o Puehuehu nui. Elua Apana o Halakaa. Makai nei a mauka loa. He 50 paha o‘u makahiki o ka noho ana ilaila. [page 74] I am a native of Halakaa, I was once the Konohiki of Halakaa, in the time when the land was Kalanimoewais. Afterwards it was purchased by Kauliokamoa and Kaeo. After that Ihihi was established as the Konohiki. It was the old native who showed it to me, it was in the time that I was Konohiki of the land. My chief told them to point out the boundaries to me. He Wahi Mo‘olelo no Kaua‘ula a me Lahaina i Maui 1111 Kumu Pono Associates LLC MaKaua111a (060107) Nawaa is the name of the one who took me, he is dead. The land which is way above Halakaa is Puehuehu nui. There are two parcels of Halakaa. One makai and one way in the uplands. I have lived there perhaps 50 years. [page 74] Keikialoha (Hoike), hoohikiia a olelo mai. Keikialoha (Witness), sworn and stated. O Keikialoha ko‘u inoa. Ua kamaaina au ma Lahaina nei. Ua ike au i ke Ahupuaa o Halakaa. Ua noho au malaila me ka‘u kane. Ua ike au i na palena makai. Ma ka aoao ma Kaanapali o Halakaa o Puunau. A ma ka aoao hoi ma Olowalu o Halakaa, o Puehuehu iki. He mau awa hookomo kekahi o Halakaa, o Keawaiki, Keonoalua, Uhailio, a ua poina au i ka 4 o na awa. Elua apana o Halakaa, makai nei, a mauka loa o kuahiwi. My name is Keikialoha. I am a native of Lahaina. I know the Ahupuaa of Halakaa. I lived there with my husband [Ihihi]. I know the makai boundaries. On the Kaanapali side of Halakaa is Puunau.