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to have kama'aina witnesses to point out shoreline boundaries to government surveyors, who would <br />then record those boundaries. There was no evidence to indicate that Hawaiian shorelines in 1866 had <br />been based on U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey publications. Thus, the court held that ancient tradition, <br />custom, and usage established the shoreline boundaries between public beaches and private lands as <br />along the upper reaches of the wash of the waves, as evidenced by the edge of vegetation or debris line. <br />For the case of North Kohala, there is a Conservation Land Use District along the cliffs fronting the <br />ocean. Together with the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, there is public access along the coastline for <br />a swath of land from the cliffs in most areas up until 'Upolu Point. There may be areas within the <br />alignment in this section that may need to utilize this area as the access point to connect portions of the <br />old railroad line if there are cases where the railroad ROW has been legally abandoned. This will be <br />further detailed out in the mapping analysis section of this report. <br />King Kamehameha I —Importance of Place <br />This section brings us back to a time before, and immediately after Western contact to the Hawaiian <br />Islands. To understand the importance that North Kohala had on the formation of the Hawaiian <br />Kingdom, we will go into a brief description of King Kamehameha I, the important relationship with <br />place, and the significance of the many resources and wahi pana that exist throughout the area. This can <br />be expanded to describe important cultural sites that the community wishes to protect and interpreted. <br />There are many cultural sites found throughout North Kohala from villages, heiau, to expansive <br />agricultural irrigation and plots. As there are many sites, this report will touch on the history relating to <br />Kamehameha I, his kula iwi (his homeland), and some select areas that are becoming public lands <br />through recent land purchases. <br />Kamehameha was born near Kokoiki, toward the leeward side, close to the imposing and ancient <br />Mo'okini Heiau. The year is not certain, and was most likely sometime in the 1750's, approximately <br />twenty years before the arrival of Captain James Cook. Kohala 'Aina24describes the birth of <br />Kamehameha as follows: It was said that "During the stormy night of Kamehameha's birth, there were <br />many omens that led to suspicions that a leader was born. It is said that when one of the rival chiefs in <br />Hilo heard of the birth, he remarked: "Pinch off the tip of the young mulberry shoot." Concerned, the <br />mother gave Pai'ea (Kamehameha) into the custody of Nae'ole, chief of Halawa, to raise him away from <br />the dangers of the court. A woman named Keaka helped Nae'ole. Isolated from parents, uncles, and <br />nephews, left to his own company, will and mind, the young boy acquired the name Kamehameha, the <br />lonely one. When Kamehameha was five years old, he joined Alapa'inui's court. When his father and <br />uncle Alapa'inui died, another uncle, the general Kalani'opu'u, took the young Kamehameha under his <br />wing. Kalani'opu'u had Kamehameha trained by the best warrior known, Kekuhaupi'o from Ke'ei in <br />South Kona. The young chief poured all his energy into learning the martial arts, preparing for the <br />inevitable battles he wanted to win. Kamehameha returned to Halawa with Kekuhaupi'o to practice his <br />craft, the use of the many—pointed spear, in a district that he knew well. <br />" Kohala 'Aina, Sophia V. Schweitzer and Surety Kohala Corporation. Mutual Publishing, November 2003 <br />10 <br />