Communication No. 2019-10- NKCDP RR Trail Plans

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current road down to the bay is likely from the construction of the railroad, perhaps built upon the ancient trail down to the bay. The land in Kohala, and in particular the land of Kamehameha, was once full of native trees, and gardens. The coastal areas had groves of hala, breadfruit, noni, milo, hau, kou, and kukui trees. Farmers (including Kamehameha) built elaborate auwai water irrigation systems from the streams that carried water to the deep soil plateau. The gulches were full of lo'i taro patches. In some areas, such as the Kapanaia parcels that will soon be county lands, community groups and organizations are active and dedicated to restoring this natural setting. Access to this area, through the railroad ROW as well as mauka-makai access is key to making this become a reality. This portion of land will be further analyzed in the mapping section of this report. Influence and Change — Impacts from Religion and Disease With the removal of the kapu system and Hawaiian spiritual religion, there was significant expansion of missionaries spreading Christianity. Missionaries played an influential role in the transitions in Hawaii. There was also the transition from the Hawaiian land tenure system to a western -based private land ownership system, which brought a change in the way of life, as well as the economy. After traders and whalers arrived to the islands, there was the start of the transition into a cash economy. Once the sandalwood trade and whaling slowed, there was advancement into the large-scale agriculture economy. North Kohala had a presence of Protestant, Catholic, and Mormon missions in the early period. Some who came as missionaries, stayed and furthered not only the movement of Christianity, but also created economic opportunities in the form of powerful large agricultural enterprises, including sugar plantations. The first missionaries arrived in the islands in 1820, several years after the removal of the kapu system. At least 8,000 people lived in Kohala at the time27, living with the abundance of ocean and land. It wasn't until 1837 that Kohala supported its first church, at Nunulu above Kapaau town. In 1839, Reverend Bliss established the foundation of the 'lole Mission Station, what became known as the Bond estate, and is now under the name Ho'omau O'lole. In 1840, Minister Elias Bond and his wife Ellen came from Maine and built and grew the mission, schools, and eventually established the Kohala Sugar Plantation. Elias Bond was exposed to the "Royalty and nobles of the Sandwich Islands, as a result of the first group of missionaries who arrived in 1820"28. He established a New England -style mission that created change and influence in Kohala. The physical buildings are still present, as it was placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places in 1977 and 1978. Father Elias Bond 29 saw the changes in economics, and tried to slow down the destructive speed with which Kohala shifted from traditional barter to new money. However, he had to concede that money had become the new standard and that 2' Coffee times, referenced from http://www.coffeetimes.com/aug98.htm 28 Elias Bond and the Mormons in Kohala, referenced from https://scholarsarchive.bvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=l&article=119 1&context=mphs 29 Damon, Ethel Mosley. Father Bond of Kohala. Honolulu, the Friend, 1927. 12