COM 1445.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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KOHALA TODAY PHYSICAL SETTING & HISTORY OF NORTH KOHALA Most residents of North Kohala are very connected to this special place. They enjoy its remote setting and ruggedness, rich cultural history, agricultural traditions, and small- town feel. Overall, the district has a landscape filled with remnants of "Hawai `i past," including evidence of all of the major epochs in the islands' history: • Pre-contact -ancient Hawaiian fishing villages, house sites, heiau, ko`a, and hundreds of other important cultural sites. Some cultural experts believe the Kohala coast contains one of the most intact "cultural landscapes" in the state because of its high density of cultural sites. • Early traders, missionaries, and ranchers -the Bond Estate and Ranches that were started in the 1800s and are still functioning today Plantation days -Kohala Ditch, field systems, continued agricultural tradition Kohala's landscape tells its history from pre-contact to modern day. While other places may have some evidence of this history, they are generally not as well preserved, or else do not cover as large or contiguous an area as in Kohala. In addition, Kohala has perpetuated the cultural heritage of "Hawai`i past" through its varied ethnic mix. Key Planning Implications Related to North Koha/a's Physical Setting and History • Remoteness -The area is relatively remote and rural, and residents want to keep it that way. • Historical/cultural significance -Important cultural sites and landscapes should be protected, and place names commemorating Kamehameha I should be recognized. • Agricultural tradition -Agriculture should be practiced and promoted in various forms. NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES North Kohala is rich in natural and cultural resources. From the Native Hawaiian perspective, these are generally one and the same. The early Native Hawaiian settlers in Kohala grew crops in the fertile mauka soils, built lo`i in the lowlands of the eastern valleys that were fed with an abundance of water, and fished and gathered from the coastal areas. Today, most of these aspects are considered "natural resources" -the fertile soils, the plentiful rainfall found in the eastern part of the district, the rich coastal resources, among others. Mixed in with these resources are "cultural resources," including the remnant terraces of the mauka "Kohala field system," where numerous crops were grown, and the remains of ancient Hawaiian settlements, such as fishing villages and other sites located along the coast. Archaeological and cultural experts have observed that Kohala's coastline is one of the most intact "cultural landscapes" in the state. There are an abundance of heiau and