He Mo'olelo 'Äina No Ka'eo Me Kähi 'Äina E A'e Ma Honua'ula O Maui
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KPA No. MaKaeo110 (122705a) HE MO‘OLELO ‘ÄINA NO KA‘EO ME KÄHI ‘ÄINA E A‘E MA HONUA‘ULA O MAUI A CULTURAL-HISTORICAL STUDY OF KA‘EO AND OTHER LANDS IN HONUA‘ULA, ISLAND OF MAUI Platform of “Kalani Heiau” (Winslow Walker’s Site 196) with Historic Wall (Site 5036 A) Running Across Northern Section of Heiau (under kiawe at back of photo) (Photo KPA-N1734, Aug. 23, 2005) Kumu Pono Associates LLC Historical & Archival Documentary Research · Oral History Interview Studies · Researching and Preparing Studies from Hawaiian Language Documents · Mähele ‘Äina, Boundary Commission, & Land History Records · Integrated Cultural Resources Management Planning · Preservation & Interpretive Program Development KPA No. MaKaeo110 (122705a) HE MO‘OLELO ‘ÄINA NO KA‘EO ME KÄHI ‘ÄINA E A‘E MA HONUA‘ULA O MAUI A CULTURAL-HISTORICAL STUDY OF KA‘EO AND OTHER LANDS IN HONUA‘ULA, ISLAND OF MAUI (TMK 2-1-07:67) PREPARED BY Kepä Maly • Cultural Historian - Resource Specialist & Onaona Maly • Researcher PREPARED FOR Sam Garcia, Jr. & Jon Garcia 193 Makena Road Makena, Hawai‘i 96753 DECEMBER 27, 2005 © 2005 Kumu Pono Associates LLC Historical & Archival Documentary Research · Oral History Interview Studies · Researching and Preparing Studies from Hawaiian Language Documents · Mähele ‘Äina, Boundary Commission, & Land History Records · Integrated Cultural Resources Management Planning · Preservation & Interpretive Program Development 554 Keonaona St. · Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 · (ph/fax) 808.981.0196 · (e-mail) [email protected] This page intentionally left blank EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following collection of archival and oral historical records was compiled by Kumu Pono Associates LLC, at the request of Sam Garcia, Jr., and Jon Garcia, owners of a 5.497 acre parcel of land, situated in the ahupua‘a (native land division) of Ka‘eo, in the Honua‘ula region of Maui (TMK 2- 1-007:067). The Garcia parcel extends from near sea level at the shore to about fifty feet in elevation above sea level, and the family proposes to develop their five-plus acre parcel into a small subdivision, containing eleven single family residences. As a part of the planning process, a preservation plan is needed for a site identified as a heiau (temple), that is situated on the property. In addition to the heiau, stone walls, habitation features, agricultural mounds, terraces, enclosures, and modified outcrops were also identified, as a part of an archaeological survey conducted by Haun and Associates (Haun et al., 2000 & 2004). The cultural resources are interpreted as dating from the period of pre-history to historic ranching and later residency activities (Haun, 2000 & 2004; and Frampton, 2002, revised, 2004). The research conducted as a part of this study, focused on two primary sources of information— (1) historical literature, and (2) the results of an oral history interview program with küpuna and kama‘äina, known to be familiar with the history of lands in the Ka‘eo-Makena vicinity. As a result, the research herein, brings a wide range of historical references into one manuscript, with written accounts dating from the 1793 and oral historical accounts dating from ca. 1915. The research focuses on the detailed history of land tenure on the Garcia parcel, and the heiau thereon—looking at the history of the larger ahupua‘a of Ka‘eo, and its’ relationship with neighboring lands of the Honua‘ula region. At the suggestion of the Garcia brothers, and in follow up to discussions with Garcia’s planner, Rory Frampton, and with Kahu Kealahou Alika (Minister of the Historic Keawala‘i Church), this study is also meant to serve as the foundation piece for development of the site preservation plan—providing the Garcias and community members with recommendations for protection of the heiau, and with interpretive-educational components for a long-term stewardship program for the cultural resources that are to be preserved on the property. As noted above, one site on the Garcia property has been identified as a heiau, and has been given the name, “Kalani Heiau.” The name of the heiau results from an archaeological survey of Maui conducted by Winslow Walker in 1929-1930, on behalf of the Bishop Museum (Walker, ms. 1930- 1931). Walker did field work in Ka‘eo and neighboring lands of the Makena vicinity, and visited a site which he was apparently informed was “Kalani Heiau” (Walker’s Site No. 196). Except for “Kalani Heiau,” Walker reported on no other sites in the vicinity of the Garcia property. Following a detailed review of Walker’s field notes, sketch books, and manuscript, and extensive research in collections pre-dating and coinciding with Walker, we were unable to pinpoint how Walker learned the name of the heiau. As best as can be determined, Walker’s source for the name of the heiau at Ka‘eo, came from earlier work done by Bishop Museum archaeologist, J.F.G. Stokes, who in 1916, learned of a heiau by the name of “Kalani,” at Ka‘eo, but which he did not personally see or map (Stokes, ms. 1916 and 1918). The location of the site today identified as “Kalani Heiau,” coincides with the location recorded by Walker on an annotated USGS Quadrangle Map of the region (Ulupalakua Quad, 1924, in the collection of the Bishop Museum) (see figures and detailed accounts of “Kalani Heiau” and other cultural resources in this study). Another site (Site No. 5036 AA), a modified knoll, interpreted by Haun to be a temporary habitation feature—part of a modified natural stone outcrop or ähua—being part of a larger complex of features (Site 5036); and stone mounds, walls, terraces, enclosures, and a modified lava blister, were identified as a part of the archaeological inventory study done in conjunction with the Garcia’s planning process (Haun et al., October 2000; and July 2004). This site was previously recorded as Site 50-Ma-B8-99, and referenced by Rose Schilt (1979) in a survey of the Garcia property. In March He Mo‘olelo ‘Äina No Ka‘eo Kumu Pono Associates LLC A Cultural-Historical of Ka‘eo and Vicinity, Honua‘ula, Maui MaKaeo110 (122705a):ii 2002, following a site visit to the Garcia property, two members of the Hui Alanui o Makena suggested that Site 5036 AA might have ceremonial significance associated with “Kalani Heiau” (see Frampton, 2002; revised 2004). The observations were detailed in communications from Ms. Dana Hall and Ms. Theresa Donham, dated November 7, 2002, July 22, 2003, and February 18 & 22, 2005. Unfortunately, the archival-historical documentation of land and traditional tenure, and oral history interviews with elder native residents of the vicinity, could offer only limited personal information pertaining to “Kalani Heiau.” The same sources of archival and kama‘äina knowledge could offer no information regarding function or history of Site 5036 AA, or whether or not the site shared any co- temporal or ceremonial association with “Kalani Heiau.” Historical documentation describes the area of the Garcia property, and adjoining lands as being a part of at least two kuleana (original fee-simple land awards to native residents), and part of a larger land grant issued to Mahoe—the last Konohiki (steward of the land on behalf of the chiefs)—by King Kamehameha III in 1852. Based on traditional customs of residency, it is likely that a range of activities, including residency, some level of dry land agriculture, and other activities associated with residency at Ka‘eo occurred on the lands held by the native tenants. A detailed review of all records associated with native Hawaiian land tenure was conducted as a part of this study. The original records and translations of the Mähele ‘Äina (Land Division) and selected Royal Patent Grants are also cited in this study. Unfortunately, no reference to a heiau or other ceremonial features (except the Historic Keawala‘i Church) was found in the land records—dating from the 1830s to the 1950s—for the immediate study area, though references to heiau and other traditional and historical resources were found for the larger Ka‘eo vicinity. As a part of the oral history study conducted in conjunction with this study, interviewees, born between 1911 to the 1940s were asked to share site specific recollections of the Garcia property, neighboring fee-simple parcels in Ka‘eo, and descriptions of the resources, community, and histories of the larger region. Only one interviewee had known of the heiau as a child, though the name used by his elders when speaking of the site was not recalled by him. All others had learned of the heiau, following the 1950s, and most after the 1980s. The names and functions of the heiau and other sites on the Garcia property were not known to the interviewees. This is in part attributed by the interviewees, to the fact that their parents and küpuna generation did not talk to them in detail about many traditional sites—except for those sites that were specifically associated with their families; and also because by the early 1900s, the land above the road, except for where houses were situated, was fairly overgrown with kiawe and other introduced plants. While only limited documentation about the “Kalani Heiau” and other features on the Garcia property was recorded in the interviews, detailed descriptions of other Makena region sites, families, traditional and customary practices, transitions in residency and land use, traditions, practices associated with the area fisheries, and descriptions of the ranching era were recorded. The interviewees shared rich and vivid accounts, and add to the community history base. Their accounts, tied with those of the archival documentary resources provide present and future generations with important information that will be of great value in the perpetuation of knowledge of lands and resources in the Ka‘eo- Makena vicinity, and larger Honua‘ula region.