Notes on Hawaiian Residency in the Lahaina District Transitions in Residency and Land Tenure

Notes on Hawaiian Residency in the Lahaina District The system of traditional Hawaiian land use and subsistence practices were extensively researched in the 1920s-1930s, by E.S. Handy, E.G. Handy, and M. Kawena Pukui (1940 and 1972). The authors compiled extensive historical records and conducted field interviews with elder kama‘äina—firsthand participants in the old lifeways—to document traditional customs and practices associated with land use and residency throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Among the places visited were the lands of the Lahaina District (Handy, 1940; and Handy, et al., 1972). In describing Lahaina as a chiefly center, and the nature of land use and residency in the area, Handy, Handy and Pukui (1972) offered the following comments: …West Maui had two main centers of population concentrated in areas where the abundant streams from the deeply eroded central dome brought water to large lo‘i systems. Of these two we take that on the southern coast as our Type Area, because there are better descriptions from early times. Lahaina District was a favorable place for the high chiefs of Maui and their entourage for a number of reasons: the abundance of food from both land and sea; its equable climate and its attractiveness as a place of residence; it had probably the largest concentration of population, with its adjoining areas of habitation; easy communication with the other heavily populated area of eastern and northeastern West Maui, "The Four Streams," and with the people living on the western, southwestern and southern slope of Haleakala; and its propinquity to Lanai and Molokai. Southeastward along the coast from the ali‘i settlement were a number of areas where dispersed populations grew taro, sweet potato, breadfruit and coconut on slopes below and in the sides of valleys which had streams with constant flow. All this area, like that around and above Lahaina, is now sugar-cane land. Ukumehame had extensive terraces below its canyon, some of which were still planted with taro in 1934; these terrace systems used to extend well down below the canyon. ‘Olowalu, the largest and deepest valley on southwest Maui, had even more extensive lo‘i lands both in the valley and below. Just at the mouth of the valley we found in 1934 a little settlement of five kauhale (family homes) surrounded by their flourishing lo‘i. There are said to be abandoned lo‘i far up in the valley. In and below the next valley, Launuipiko [Launiupoko], there were no evidences of lo‘i, and the people of ‘Olowalu said there had never been any. But we think there must have been a few, although the land is, in general, dry and rough. Next beyond this, going along the coast toward Lahaina, is Kaua‘ula Gulch above Waine‘e, and here in 1934 there were a few lo‘i in which Hawaiians were still growing taro. Lahaina’s main taro lands, on the lower slopes running up to the west side of Pu‘u Kukui, were watered by two large streams, Kanaha and Kahoma, which run far back into deep valleys whose sides were too precipitous for terracing… [Handy, et al., 1972:492] Handy, et al., also observed that “Lahaina, flanked by excellent fishing grounds, was the primary seat of the chiefs of West Maui” (Handy, et al., 1972:272). Transitions in Residency and Land Tenure (ca. 1820-1920) In the period of Hawaiian history prior to the arrival of foreigners, lands within the Lahaina District were established as a seat of the kings and chiefly households of Maui. From Lahaina, the neighboring islands of Kaho‘olawe, Läna‘i and Moloka‘i were also governed. The area of Lele, encompassing the lands from the Kaua‘ula Stream vicinity to Mäla, holds a significant place in the history of Maui. The He Wahi Mo‘olelo no Kaua‘ula a me Lahaina i Maui 9 Kumu Pono Associates LLC MaKaua111a (060107) .

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