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WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF LA'AKEA UGAN`°UM1A -`"6
President, Mary Kawena Puku'i Cultural Preservation Society
Hawaii' County Council Meeting, August 4,2021, 9 AM
Aloha,
The Mary Kawena POku'i Cultural Preservation Society fully supports the approval of
Resolution 161. These Ka`u lands are more to us than beautiful scenic areas. These are
places where our ancestors lived, loved and raised their children. We are their
descendants and we owe it to them to preserve these places for those yet to come. We
have the opportunity to have a say in what happens to these areas and not worry about
outsiders with money and plans to make more money with no concern for the
environment, history and culture of its people.
Mary Kawena Puku'i was a child of Ka`u, born in 1895 in Haniumalu, just above
Na`alehu.and was raised by her grandmother, Nali`ipo`aimoku. Her upbringing was rich
in the language, dances, culture and many different aspects of Hawaiian life. From a
young age, she recorded things she learned and dedicated her entire life to
preservation. Our purpose is to be a unique and invaluable educational resource based
on her life's work.
When we've visited Waikapuna, I know just about where my great great grandmother's
house was.before the tidal wave forced everyone to move upland. A few of us know
that Kua, the great red guardian shark of Ka`u was fed here by the people. In
recognition of this aumakua, we don't wear red at the beach. A few know that Kua's son,
Pakaiea, a large shark aumakua was born here. Hardly anyone knows that Kawena
Puku`i`s grandfather, Keli`ikanaka`oleoHaililani, placed the lifeless body of his niece's
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newborn infant in a calabash, raised her body to the sun and prayed until the baby
stirred and cried. I don't know if all of her descendents know that story. Does anyone
know what the remnants of those strange shaped rock structures on the lava close to
the cliffs were for? Does everyone who goes there to fish and picnic know there was a
thriving fishing village there?. Do people know about the birds, the plants, the history of
the coastline?
Some of us know the story of the chief, Halaea, who became greedy and demanded
more than his share of fish that was caught, leaving the fishermen and their families
without. Tired of the chiefs disregard for the welfare of his people, the fishermen invited the
chief to accompany them because his powerful presence would insure a good catch.
They paddled far from shore, out of sight of land, them proceeded to put everything
they caught in the chief's canoe, until the canoe started to take on water. He protested,
but the fishermen said he deserved everything and as his canoe started to sink, they
turned and paddled full speed for home. Do people know they landed at Ka'alu'alu and
never looked back. The greedy chief was never seen again. Ka'alu'alu was where the old
famous Kali fisherman, Kawelauokekapu Kua'ana lived in a shack and I met him in 1960, when
my grandmother interviewed him and had brought me along.
Thanks to Mary Kawena Puku`i documenting and explaining many things in "The
Polynesian Family System in Kali, Hawaiai" and "Native Planters in Old Hawai`i, their
Life, Lore and Envifronment," we can educate ofhers so they have a different
appreciation and understanding of these areas.
(2)
Eliminating the possibility of development, which would destroy these areas provides us
the opportunity to insure the preservation of cultural sites and initiate old land and
ocean conservation practices that once kept the environment in good order. With your
help and support, we will have the unprecedented opportunity to progress to the past.
Mahalo for your kind consideration, La`akea Suganuma
(3)