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September 8, 2015 <br /> TO: Commissioners of the Hawai'i County Public Access, Open Space and <br /> Natural Resources Preservation Commission <br /> FROM: Kehaulani Lum <br /> Aloha! <br /> Mahalo nui loa for this opportunity to present my concerns regarding the cultural <br /> and historically important lands of Hakalau Point. <br /> My name is Kehaulani Lum, and I am a lineal descendant of Kapou,the son of a <br /> Konohiki of Hakalau-nui and recipient of a Mahele grant in Wailea,which our'ohana <br /> stewards today. I wholeheartedly support your consideration of this opportunity to <br /> improve public access, open space and cultural, historic and natural resource <br /> preservation. <br /> Hakalau-nui carries the name of a ruling chief,who was the kaulana nui <br /> (administrator of land) of the area and a revered 'olohe, a master fighter. The 'olohe <br /> of this area were renown for their prowess, and the ancient spiritual art of lua, from <br /> self-defense to healing,was practiced and taught here. <br /> In the Mahele,the lands encompassing Hakalau-nui, Hilo Paliku,were given by the <br /> King to Mikahela Kekau'onohi,the granddaughter of King Kamehameha. She held <br /> them until her death,when her estate entered into probate and was ultimately <br /> ordered by the Court to be sold, rather than to be retained by her heir. Hakalau-nui, <br /> thus, slipped away from their ancient purposes and entered into the holdings of <br /> foreign commerce. <br /> Along with the lands went the memories of a significant ancient battle which took <br /> place on these very shores between King Kamehameha's armies and the warriors of <br /> Kahekili of Maui. <br /> It is widely known today that Kamehameha, who thereupon confirmed the prophecy <br /> that he would be a great warrior king, lifted the historic Naha Stone,which sits <br /> outside of the Hilo Public Library. Less is known, however, of the circumstances <br /> that precipitated his act. <br /> The Reverend Stephen L. Desha,who published a series on Kamehameha Paiea and <br /> his great warrior, Kekuhaupi'o, in his weekly Hawaiian language newspaper Ka <br /> Hoku o Hawaii,wonderfully captured the story in the 1920s. Desha writes: <br />