Sunday, March 3, 2013

Waikele-Hoaeae

Waikele is another mistaken identity district. Waipahu is just a small area of springs near the old mill within the Waikele ahupua'a. I can't wait until the ahupua'a signage project is completed around the island and everyone can have a better understanding of their very own district and kuliana.
 
That said, I visited the small area of Waipahu near the stream on the west side of the old mill to look for a significant pohaku. A cycling partner of mine, Mackenzie accompanied me and for good reason because his suggesting of riding into an old unpaved road was what led us to finding the pohaku I was looking for. That and some stray white dog, but I won't go into that kind of talk here...
 
 
Here's a hint of the whereabouts.

At a height of about fifty feet I spotted what looked like an image of a dog on a very prominent rock.
We climbed up the cliff on the lower side and worked our way to the stones.


That animal figure in the center toward the left is the one I spotted from the road.

Every rock is almost covered in all types of figures on their west facing side.
 




I'm pretty sure this one is the Pohaku-Pili. A legendary stone and ahupuaa marker for Waikele and Hoaeae. It was described as resting on a cliff with nothing holding it secure.
 
 
The view from the cliff looking west.
 
We headed down to Kapapapuhi Point behind the Westlock homes to take a look at an island off shore called Laulaunui. It still has one of the only remaining fishponds of Puuloa, Pearl Harbor. Which also bears it's name, Laulaunui. Pictured are two ominous pohaku. As if standing guard to the island.
 
The west lock of Pearl Harbor and Laulaunui Island.
 
Pearl Harbor Bike path was originally a military service road that would have served as a quick way to mobilize a defence around Pearl Harbor. It also traces a petroleum lines path. It is possible to continue on a bike from Waipahu Depot Road where the bike path supposedly ends and continue all of the way to Ewa at Renton Road. We only dismounted to cross a couple of old dilapidated bridges.
 

1 comment:

  1. Just found this posting. Mahalo for the information. Used to live on West Loch in the early 60s as little one. Very interested in the history of the area. Especially in regards to the fishponds along the shore of West Loch, whose remnants were still visible back then.

    ReplyDelete