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Attachment E - PONC 2025 - Kumukahi 2. Describe any significant historic, cultural, or natural resources on the property. Kumukahi is a site of immense historic, cultural, and natural significance, deeply woven into Hawaiian traditions, navigation, and sacred practices. As the easternmost point of Hawaii, it is the first place where the rising sun touches the islands, symbolizing the arrival of light and new beginnings. This profound connection to celestial events and Polynesian navigation makes Kumukahi a wahi pang of great importance. According to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kipuka Database, Kumukahi contains cultural and historic resources such as: • Kuki'i Heiau - This sacred site is associated with three primary practices: navigation, astronomy, and the art of poison. Alignment stones are positioned to mark the equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice, serving as an ancient Hawaiian observatory. Traditionally, Hawaiian practitioners ascend the pu'u (hill) to observe celestial alignments rather than staying at the shoreline. Modern-day navigators, including those aboard the Hokule'a, continue to honor this site before setting sail and upon their return. In ancient times, fires were lit atop the pu'u and the heiau to guide voyaging canoes, functioning as a lighthouse for ocean travelers. • Puu Kukae - The heiau sits atop this pu'u, reinforcing its role as a sacred site for celestial navigation and ceremonial reverence. • Burial Sites - The proposed acquisition includes at least three major cemetery areas with numerous iwi kupuna. Protecting these sacred burial sites ensures that local families can maintain cultural protocols, honor their ancestors, and prevent further desecration. Kumukahi is referenced in numerous mo'olelo, affirming its cultural significance: • The Ladder of the Sun - Two stone heaps, said to be the wives of Kumukahi, mark the northern and southern limits of the sun's path. This connection to celestial movement underscores Kumukahi's spiritual and astronomical importance. • The Legend of Kumukahi and Pele - Kumukahi, a chief who pleased Pele, encountered her in the form of an old woman. When he ridiculed her, Pele's wrath turned into a fountain of lava, chasing him to the sea. The lava ultimately formed Cape Kumukahi, solidifying its place in Hawaiian mythology. • Martha Beckwith's Accounts - Described in "Hawaiian Romance of Laieikawai," Kumukahi is depicted as a bold cape of black lava, marked by stone piles commemorating the visits of chiefs to this sacred spot with tombs of the dead on its highest levels. The 2018 Kilauea eruption reshaped the coastline, forming a new beach and altering the landscape. Preserving this area ensures ongoing protection, preservation, and responsible access to this natural resource. Kumukahi is not just a historical landmark—it is a living cultural and ecological treasure.