Waipi'o Lookout Draft Environmental Assessment

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RC-0442 CULTURE-HISTORICAL CONTEXT This section of the report presents a brief cultural history of the project area, primarily gathered from archival documentary research that has been summarized and presented in Cordy (1994) and Lebo et al. (1999). Prior to and during the Mahele it appears as though Lalakea 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. Thus, while the current study area is not situated within Waipi`o Valley proper, its contextual background is clearly tied to the greater Waipi`o Ahupua`a, which in and of itself could be considered a wahi pana(a sacred or storied place). As Handy et al.related,"[t]here is no locality on Hawaii in connection with which there was more lore and history told than Waipi`o." (1991:534). Lalakea is literally translated as Whitetip shark (Pterolamiops longimanus) and according to Pukui et al. (1976)the land unit derives its name from this animal Ethnohistorical traditions (Fornander 1880) indicate that Waipi`o was associated with at least nine successive Pili line rulers of Hawaii Island,from Kaha`imoele`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 (Cartwright 1933). The royal residential area is described as being situated toward the mouth of the valley inland of the sand dunes (Kamakau 1961). 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 (Ellis 1963), contained the royal mausoleum known as Hale o Liloa, which was destroyed in 1830.The sennit-encased remains(ka`at)of Liloa and his grandson are said to have been removed prior to destruction of the mausoleum and taken to the Bishop Museum (Barrere 1975; Buck 1957).Honua`ula Heiau is said to have been constructed by `Umi (Stokes 1919)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 (Kamakau 1961; Kuykendall 1957). One additional heiau is worth mentioning here, as it appears to have been located in Lalakea above Waipi`o Valley in the general vicinity of the current study area (Stokes and Dye 1991). Hokuwelowelo Heiau is described as follows: Heiau of Hokuwelowelo, land of Lalakea, Waipi`o, Hamakua. Lalakea benchmark is at the north edge of the structure. The heiau is a small pen near the edge of the sea cliff, overlooking the mouth of Waipi`o valley. Its elevation is 900 feet. It is about 150 feet from the road and the same distance from the edges of the sea cliff and Waipi`o valley cliff. This heiau is said to have been"built by the gods" and was the place where the famous Kihapu was guarded unitl it was stolen by the thief-dog,Puapualenalena from Puako.The tradition of this affair is widely known.(Stokes and Dye 1991:162) 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 Hbku-welowelo (comet); their conch sounded every night, to the annoyance of Chief Hakau, who ordered the thieving dog, Puapualenalena,to steal it." 6