Kaumaka'ula'ula Heiau
Its foundation is said to have been laid by Kamehaikaua after the great flood, Kaiakahinali'i.
Kahonu was its priest and Kekuaokalani was the ruling chief of the Kapu Moe.
The prostrating Kapu that forbid the shadows of commoners to mingle with the high ranking chief or his home, upon punishment of death.
Kekuaokalani was born on Hawaii island and when he was only a month old. A council of chiefs met with the child's related guardians, iwikuamo'o Kahonu and his wife. They wished to take the child to another island. That being the birthplace of Kahonu, Punalu'u of Oahu a'Lua.
The council along with omen readers, councilors of the royal court approved and those associated with Kahonu accompanied them on their journey.
Upon arrival to the shores of Ko'olauloa. The fleet of canoes entered the harbor of Mamalu and landed at Makaiwa.
Upon arrival to the shores of Koolauloa. The fleet of canoes entered the harbor of Mamalu and landed at Makaiwa.
Once they arrived, Kahonu and his wife took the young chief Kekuaokalani deep into the mountains of Punalu'u. To Kawaiakane and Kawaiakanaloa, the water of Kane and the water of Kanaloa.
Kahonu had Kekuaokalani's travelling company and priests build the child chief a house at Maliko and had them reconstruct Kaumaka'ula'ula Heiau.
There is no trace of Kaumaka'ula'ula Heiau today.
Although it was mentioned of as a "he heiau huna ia", a most sacred temple.
It's boundary started at the edge of Maipuna Stream that in the old days was deep with a heavy flow that cut into the reef that can be seen till this day. Although even the stream has been diminished because it was diverted to water lo'i and agriculture even until present day.
6 chains almost 400 feet long starting at the "Maipuna" now known as Punalu'u Stream along the government road, and 2 chains wide about 132 feet wide on the southern end near the stream, and on the northern side 1 chain wide at about 66 feet. The outline of the temple could be pointed out by the oldest residents of Punalu'u.
In fact it is not hard to imagine the size of the heiau if viewed from the sky on google maps. The stream is where you would start and the shore bends inward at about the 400ft mark where the heiau was narrower at...
Now the present area is Punalu'u Beach park across the bridge from where the restrooms are...
Kaluaolohe Fishpond was located between Hanawao Heiau cemetery and road. Now destroyed.
I was attracted to the ahupua'a of Punalu'u because of the book, Sites Of Oahu. The map fold out of the Ko'olauloa District shows a more dense gathering of sites than other ahupua'a near by. I wanted to visit them all and try to figure out why. Although this story that I shared might explain why, if just during that period in time.
During my visit I came across a KSBE property sign across the street and later read that they manage most of the land in the district from the the main road and up into the mountains. I found out who to contact and besides the time I reached out personally to Shad Kane in my first blog post, This was the first time I was contacting an organization about visiting a traditional site. I mean, I talked to a guard at Kapa'a quarry about visiting Pahukini Heiau and he told me I had to ask the main branch and then turned me away.
This time felt different because it was Kamehameha Schools and I guess I got a little excited about what they were going to say.
Anyhow, it did not turn out too positive I must admit. I was told that I could not visit the ahupua'a because there was nothing set up at the time to welcome visitors. A few farmers have property there which they wouldn't want me to tread on. There are visits to lo'i by students that I might have a chance to accompany if I were to try and get into that. There are also archaeologists that visit the area to study the sites already pointed out.
The thing that hurt was that I was left hanging for a couple weeks and then when I called, this is what they told me. It is very excusable but I had to explain who I was, which is a nobody. Also why I wanted to visit the area. My answer was that I was interested in visiting all of the sites from my culture. In fact I think I added that on my death bed I would love to have said I visited as much sites as I possibly could. I mean, from earlier posts in this blog. I have visited sites where nothing remains but just standing there really does mean something to you once there. If you study up on the exact location and then visit it you can get a feel on what it was like back when that site thrived.
Before the phone conversation ended, I was even asked not to mention this district. They actually thought I had enough vigilante readers to inspire trespassing. Everything about the area that they are asking me to "keep secret" is actually readily available online and in books at most local book stores and libraries. There are hiking blogs that explain how to enter the district from all sides. Yet my visit and sharing on my blog will somehow awaken a suspected ignorant group of readers and motivate them to enter Punalu'u without permission.
Sometimes I like to think that what I share is enough for someone to say, "wow that's cool I didn't know the story about that place and that it was located there!" Then they go on with their lives because they know better.
Or someone may say, "yeah I've been there a long time ago. It's good that its still there and being visited by people like me." Or,"here are a few more things you left out that I've heard about the place!"
I don't think anyone reads my blog and then immediately jumps into their car to take a selfie there and then kick a rock wall over. I mean telling me not to visit private property simply because you don't want me on your land is one thing and I'll accept that. But to be an establishment that is supposed to educate the Hawaiian people and then to tell me to keep my mouth closed, wow. I just trip.
Anyhow, I hope I can visit these wahi pana respectfully one day.
This experience has also inspired me to share sites that totally are nonexistent to the modern discerning eye and all that remains is a modern structure. I will visit the site and try to supply its memorial though better storytelling and particular perimeters of the site in relation to the lay of the land through images shared that help make it more valid.
~Aloha
