Waipi'o Lookout Draft Environmental Assessment

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(Kamohoali`i),Nanaue lives near a waterfall on the west side of Waipi`o Valley. Mysterious disappearance of men from the valley are eventually traced to Nanaue,who has a shark's mouth on his back and has developed a taste for human flesh. He escapes to Hana." Of historical importance is the fact that,Liloa,who unified the island of Hawaii, lived in Waipi`o Valley. His son `Umi, a great fanner and fisherman who deposed his reportedly cruel brother,was an extremely important ali`i associated with events and structures throughout the island. A lo`i (taro patch)in Waipi`o bears his name. Ethnohistorical traditions indicate that Waipi`o was associated with at least nine successive Pili line rulers of Hawaii Island,from Kaha`imocle`a to Umi(from roughly AD 1460 to 1620). Prior to the establishment of these Pili rulers, Waipi`o was the residential base for powerful local rulers dating back to at least the AD 1200s .The royal residential area is described as being situated toward the mouth of the valley inland of the sand dunes.In this area were also located several heiau,a bathing pond,and two large fishponds.Three of these heiau are famed luakini heiau, and all appear to have remained in use until the abolition of the kapu system. Paka`alana Heiau was one of the most important national heiau. The Paka`alana compound,which also seemed to have served as a pu`uhonua, contained the royal mausoleum known as Hale o Liloa, which was destroyed in 1830. The sennit-encased remains(kd`ai)of Uloa and his grandson are said to have been removed prior to destruction of the mausoleum and taken to the Bishop Museum. Honua`ula Heiau is said to have been constructed by `Umi and the place where he offered the sacrifice of his brother Hakau,who was killed by `Umi in the overthrow that led to `Umi's succession as ruler. Moa`ula Heiau was repaired and reconsecrated by Kalaniopu`u sometime around 1780. It was dedicated to the war god Kuka`ilimoku, and in that ceremony Kalaniopu`u proclaimed his son Kiwala`o heir to the thrown and placed his nephew Kamehameha in charge of the deity. This act is cited as setting the stage for the schism between cousins that eventually led to Kamehameha's rise to power. Pukui et al. (1976:114)refer to the cliff on the Hamakua side of Waipi`o Valley as Koa`e-kea, and relate that"Kane and various gods lived at the top of this cliff at a place called H6ku- welowelo(comet);their conch sounded every night,to the annoyance of Chief Hakau,who ordered the thieving dog,Puapualenalena,to steal it." Prior to and during the Mahele it appears that Lalakea,which contains the Rice Property, was an ili kupono of Waipi`o. It was not until the legal proceedings of the Boundary Commission that Lalakea appears to have been given independent ahupua`a status. It was retained as crown land. The area of Lalakea occupied by the Rice Property, outside Waipi`o Valley proper, is not associated with any of the traditional cultural properties known from the valley. As part of the current study, an effort was made to obtain information from knowledgeable informants about any potential traditional cultural properties and associated practices that might be present or have taken place in Lalakea ahupua`a. Elliot Markell, Margaret Loo and Kelly Loo were consulted. Ms. Loo provided the information that the property was cultivated with 13 Environmental Assessment, Hawai`i County Purchase of Rice Property at Waipi`o Lookout