Waikiki

A few weeks ago I was riding around Waikiki and decided to try to take a look at the new section of bike path that was recently reopened. I remember going crabbing with my dad's side of the family back when I was younger and we could walk completely around the Ala Wai Canal. So I rolled right into the golf course parking lot figuring it was connected to the bike path now. No luck, that section of the path is still physically there but only used by golf carts. The path instead, still takes you around the entire golf course onto Date Street and then back behind Iolani School to the Ala Wai Bike Path. The only section that was reopened is a short section that was next to the community garden section near the elementary.

This whole area was marshland with small collections of somewhat fresh water ponds all over the place and wet farmland years ago. The Ala Wai was made to collect all of that water and channel it out into the ocean. You should always be mindful when seeing pohaku that was once in a lo'i of old. They always stand out somehow as guardians of the area. Some with small holes as eyes or ears, and even complete faces. This large pohaku in the golf course across from the old Sam Choi Restaurant. Had a section that looked like it had a place set for sitting or placing offerings on it. 

Manu Boyd has the most eloquent description of the area and it would just annihilate anything I would attempt to say on the matter, so watch this video.

The three images below are what remains of the three waters of Waikolu, as mentioned by Manu Boyd.

Kuekaunahi

Apuakehau

Pi'inaio

Helumoa Coconut Grove is now located in the area known as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. Some say that some of the Niu trees found within the property are remnants of the ancient coconut grove. Although I cannot conceive which ones they would be. As their height do not even come close to the height of those found at Hawea Heiau. Maybe because the heiau is older than Helumoa. 

Kamehameha Schools has done a great service to history by preserving some of the old stories of the area and placing them around the shopping center.

 Na Pohaku Ola Kapaemahu A Kapuni are located next to the police station on Kalakaua Ave. They were quarried from Kaimuku and brought down to the shore in memorial of four ancient Kahuna from Kahiki. At the time they left the island and the people of Hawaii to return home.

In 1997 the fence was placed around the stones to better preserve them and a stone was brought from the ancient homeland of the travelling kahuna. A stone ahu platform was erected to support the stone and a plaque was placed explaining the significance of this structure. 

Sorry guys, fast kine tidbits today. I will return to this cherished place more often and gather more in depth blog entries for you! After all I was simply riding my bike around on this day and not trying too hard to collect history. I hope you are inspired to research your own questions of our rich history in these islands and physically visit them for yourself if possible as well. Aloha!

Here are a few images of the water ways of the Mo'ili'ili district above the Waikiki area within the Kona district of Oahu.