Final AA Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND LEGENDARY AND TRADITIONAL LAND USE HISTORY According to Place Names of Hawaii, Pepe ekeo was formerly referred to as Pepe e -ke -6, literally meaning "the food crushed, as by warriors in battle" (Pukul et al. 1974:183) . As mentioned earlier, Pepe ekeo and Kahua AhupuaI a are located in the South Hilo district of Hawai' i Island. In Exalted Sits the Chief, Cordy explains that "Hilo district too is a windward district with 32 miles of shoreline. It also is focused on Mauna Kea's eastern slopes and similarly exposed cliffs, rough seas, narrow reefs, rain - shrouded thick - soiled slopes with upper ' 6hi' a -koa forests and deep gulches. But Hilo also includes the large, fertile flatlands of Hilo Bay formed by Mauna Loa flows. These flatlands with swamps and the wide lower Wailoa River and the calm waters of the bay played a dominant role in the history of Hilo district and the island" ( Cordy 2000: 22). The South Hilo district, positioned on the windward side of Hawai' i Island, experiences heavy downpour in the winter months and is known for its verdant landscape and productive agricultural fields. In /Native Planters of Old Hawal"% the authors Handy and Handy describe Hilo as "one of the rainiest inhabited localities on the island of Hawaii" (Handy et al. 1972: 361). The chant Hi' u o Lani is discussed as a beckoning to the heavens for rain: Heaven magic, fetch a Hilo -pour from heaven! Morn's cloud -buds, look! They swell in the East. The rain -cloud parts, Hilo is deluged with rain, The Hilo of King Hana -Kahi Surf breaks, stirs the mire of Pi' ilani The bones of Hilo are broken By the blows of the rain. Ghostly the rain -scud of Hilo in heaven; The cloud -forms of Pua -lani grow and thicken. The rain - priest bestirs him now to go forth, Forth to observe the stab and thrust of the rain, The rain that clings to the roof of Hilo As seen above, the relationship between the climate and flora of Hilo is seen as a physical manifestation and result of chanting and prayer. It is not surprising then that Hilo is known for its past and present ability to grow large amounts of flora that was and is quintessential in the Hawaiian diet and lifestyle. Breadfruit (Artocarpus a /ti /is), kalo or taro (Colocasia esculenta), sweet potato (1pomoea batatas) and yams (Di6scorea alata) are all noted as growing quite successfully in the Hilo region. (Handy et al. 1972: 153, 283, 128 & 182) Pepe'ekeo is mentioned briefly in the book The Epic Tale ofHi'iakaikapo /lope %. In one of the passages, Hi'iakaikapoliopele, sister of the goddess Pele, explains to the 5