Communication No. 2021-08- Simmy McMichael Testimony

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USDI/NPS NRNP Registration Form Holualoa 4 Archaeological District NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 2 Holualoa 4 Archaeological District name of property --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Page 7 OMB No. 1024-0018 Hawai'i County, HI county and state ----------------------- ----------------------- Ka'opua in the 1940s. They mapped the sites in the Holualoa 4 ahupua'a as two complexes in 1950 and 1956. It was from Kekahuna and Kelsey's work that the center became identified as two complexes - Keolonahihi on the makai (west) side of Ah'i Drive and Keakealaniwahine on the mauka (east) side. Because of different ownership of these two complexes, much of the subsequent archaeological work has addressed the complexes, rather than the entirety of the Holualoa 4 ahupua'a. There have been two archaeological surveys conducted at Keakealaniwahine since Kekahuna and Kelsey's work in 1956. A 1973 survey for a new roadway known as the Ali'i Drive Realignment was conducted along the mauka portion of the Keakealaniwahine complex (Ching et. al. 1973). This survey located 1 heiau site, 2 burial sites, and 3 house platforms. A more comprehensive archaeological survey of the Keakeakealaniwahine complex was conducted in 1994 with a total of 28 sites being identified (Hammatt 1994). An archaeological survey of the Keolonahihi complex was conducted in 1977 (Sinoto 1977) with updated mapping and archaeological excavations conducted by the Division of State Parks between 1985 and 1989 (Yent 1995). The inventory included a total of 16 sites with multiple features. In addition to the archaeological investigations, a review of all the written literature and maps was conducted in 1986 which produced a historical overview and annotated bibliography (McEldowney 1986). There have been inconsistencies in the site names found in the traditional histories, oral histories, and archaeological surveys from the early 1800s until the present. This has created some confusion when trying to correlate sites and identify sites by a traditional place name. For this reason, several names may be given to a site or different sites may have the same name. Table 1 tries to correlate the site names from various sources. The Holualoa Royal Center was split into two archaeological complexes when Ali'i Drive was constructed in the 1800s (Maps 3 and 4). The parcel makai (seaward and west) of Ali'i Drive consists of 12 acres and was purchased by the State of Hawai'i in 1980. This area has been set aside for preservation and designated Keolonahihi State Historical Park. The 16.4 -acre parcel on the mauka (inland and east) side of Ali'i Drive is referred to as Keakealaniwahine's Residence, and this parcel was donated to the State in 1998 for inclusion into the historical park. Both portions of the Holualoa district set aside for park purposes lack any modern improvements and at present, both areas are covered with a dense growth of vegetation and are not open for public visitation. Historical photographs suggest that the site was fairly open with loulu palms and coconut trees lining the shore (Photo D. Early descriptions also suggest kou trees were common in the area (Ellis 1969: 118). Today, the dense vegetation cover consists of introduced species, such as Moreton Bay fig, Chinese banyan, opiuma, and kiawe (Photo II). Located about 3 miles south of Kailua-Kona town, the Holualoa 4 archaeological district is situated within the rapidly growing urban center between Kailua-Kona and Keauhou. The parcels around the district are zoned urban residential and resort. There are several privately owned parcels with modern house structures along Ali'i Drive and a residential subdivision to the south of the Keolonahihi site at Kaumalumalu. There are also several proposed roadways along the perimeter of the Holualoa district. The proposed realignment of Alii Drive runs along the mauka (east) boundary of the Keakealaniwahine complex and the proposed extension of the Lako Street runs along the northern side of Keakealaniwahine. While the complex has been impacted by shoreline erosion, the construction of Ali'i Drive, and post -contact house construction, the major portion of the archaeological district is intact and considered well-preserved.