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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0969.010 2004-2006 Page 1 of t Murashige, Laura - - -~i From: Debbie Hecht [hecht.deb@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 2:38 PM 755 RUG 21 1 To: Council testimony Subject: Planning Committee - Info on the Puapua'a property Attachments: Hilt-PuapuaaProperty.2.24.06lowres.pdf; konaalii.pdf Please print and distribute the 4 page handout that is attached. Hello Hawaii County Council- I have been working with interested neighbors in Kona and Councilwoman Virginia Isbell to promote the acquisiton of the Puapua'a property. I've attached 4 pages of information on the property. As you will see this 12+ acre property is almost ready to be developed. If we don't act soon this property with the Heiau and burial sites will be lost forever. It is also one of the few remaining parcels of Open Space left along Ali i Drive. Please save this property , it would be a valuable cultural and open space acquisition for the County. Debbie Hecht P.O. Box 4148 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 (808) 989-3222 Comm. rNo. e Ref. To:F~rwrh! Ref. Date AUG 21 inns 8/17/2006 Puapua'a Property Site of the Kauakaiakaola Heiau The Hawaii Island Land Trust has been working with local residents to save this land as an important Heiau site with possible passive and some minimally active recreation uses, which would appeal to local residents and tourists alike. Facts: 1. The site is approximately 13.5 acres and is comprised of three TMK parcels, owned by one entity. 2. It is located approximately 2 miles south of Kailua on the makai side of Alii Drive and north of Casa de Emdeko Condominiums. 3. This property contains the important Heiau of Keaukukui'ula. The entrance to the main part of the heiau is thought to be open to the ocean. 4. This property is one of the only vacant sites left on the makai side of AIN Drive. 5. This 13.5 acre property has potential for many different uses. Hawaiian cultural experts have envisioned a garden surrounding the Heiau. Residents of the adjacent condominium projects have envisioned a small playground for the keiki. 3 Na~ th S: crPr MEW 6Sw~ ~ /W N. ay 1/'c for tA. PreSCO fifi - r6 M. Q> ~y aA _ _ (rra X50j ~~aoes¢° N a E""~~ ~e=lrrt i~'roan,~a~ r.crs~ rrrr:r~r ~ ~ Y Juti®n F'G~mFwem d Mr• +Xi1k M >.b 1 ~ ra For More information contact: 0.076 Debbie Hecht, The Hawaii tzbAc~ CJ8O,N6t:C'> 4 5'r ees ss ar , v Island Land Trust at 989-3222 or Doug Parker at 331-8070. f,Es aers~' ( g ° 9. M~.. V t 0p9A°i ~ 0 o M ~ PG• ~2, j ~ 5 www.hawaiilandtrust.oro e r`i~^`~ 55 ~A6 e t ~sy L rss!- The Entrance to the Heiau iz . R9f i 1'(: i s ~f Y m m1: x 10 "The entrance was probably at the southern corner, which has been much damged by the sea. From this corner is a paved lane following the coutnior of the ground." This quote is from the book, Heiau of the Island of Hawai'i . A Historic Survey of Native Hawaiian Temple Sites John F.G.Stokes and published by the Bishop Museum Press. Kauakaiakaola Heiau Bishop Museum Catalogue: 5o-Ha-D7-i State of Hawaii Catalogue: 3896 Heiau of Kauakaiakaola, land of Puapua'a x, North Kona [fig. to). This beiau was found on the northern point of Puapua'a Bay, go feet from the sea and to feet above mean tide. Kahelo benchmark bears 189°13'30",1170 feet. It is unquestionably the structure seen by 13JJis and named by him as follows: At Ruapua, we examined an interesting heiau called Kauaikahaom, built of immense blocks of lave and found its dimensions to be r 5o feet by 70. At the north end was a smaller enclosure 6o feet long, and to wide, partitioned off by a high wall, with but one narrow entrance. The places where the idols formerly stood, were apparent, though the idols have been removed. The spot where the altar formerly stood, could be distinctly traced, it was a mound of earth paved with smooth stones, and surrounded by a firm curb of lava. The adjacent ground was strewed with bones of ancient offerings. The natives informed us, that four principal idols were supposed to preside there; one of scene, two of wood, and one of red feathers. One of these idols, they said, was brought from a foreign country. Their names were Kanenuiakea (great and widespreading Kane,) who was brought from Tauai; Kaneru mhonua (earth shaking Kane;) Rora- makseha, and Kekuaaimanu [Ellis r8x5:641. BULLETIN 7 : ANTHROPOLOGY P~ I The hefau is a walled structure with some interior platform features. The sur- rounding country has a thin covering of soil over beds of pahoehoe, which frequently outcrop. The same features are found in the interior of the heiau. Inside and outside p of this heiau are many modem graves. The entrance was probably at the southern z comer, which has been much damaged by the sea. From this comer is a paved lane following the contour of the ground. In the southeast wall is an opening (purposely F allowed in the plan) which has been carefully walled up. Adjoining it on the inside .n is the remaining portion of a pavement. The opening may have been a former entrance which was closed during one of the many repairs which theheiau underwent during the kapu period. The altar mentioned by Ellis is rather difficult to find, but I am inclined to place it at the northwest end of the dividing wall between the body of the heiau and the eastern compartment. Here the wall is broadened into a platform that is filled with dirt and pebbles-an unusual construction technique. Here also the comer of the small compartment was enclosed with a wall, as though for the bone pit. The four idols mentioned by Ellis were probably placed along the bench inside the southeast wall. Adjoining the west side of the dividing wall, near the offertorium, is a low platform of waterworn stones, practically level with the earth. At the western side of the heiau are a number of platforms and small enclosures which suggest house foundations. This is particularly so with the platform in the northwest comer, which is lined with lava rock, while its upper surface is paved with smooth coral fragments. In the middle of the platform is a shallow pit, lined with lava rock and serving probably as a fireplace. There may have been other features of the foundations that the burials in the interior have disturbed. One of the most noticeable features of this place was the almost vertical wall _ enclosing the north, east, and south sides. This was made possible by the use of broken pahoehoe slabs with which an even and close facing was formed. In most of the other heiau, the walls had a slope of not less than 1:4 [not greater than 76°3; in the walls here, it is about 1:9 [83°1. The westem end, which the sea sometimes reaches, is strongly walled up, with a slope of about 1:3 [71° . Here waterworn stones are used. Two hundred feet to the north is an L-shaped stone platform about 4o by So feet U in extent and 4 to S feet high. It has a low wall cresting its outer edges. There are 55, three pavements (steps) on its surface at varying elevations, in addition to modem n- graves. Five hundred feet north-northwest of the heiau are two long, narrow enclosures ) near the sea, running lengthwise of the beach and in line. That on the north is 67 feet long and 3 S feet wide; its western wall has been broken down by the sea. That on the south, r8 feet away, is 93 feet long and zq feet wide. There are several platforms for houses in both. These three places are mentioned here because their proximity to the heiau seems to indicate a connection: there are no other structures nearby. Regarding the name of the heiau, in looking through the records of the Govern- ment Survey, I have since found that J. S. Emerson established a secondary bench- mark named Kauakahikahaola, from which Kahelo benchmark bears 189°40' 15", 1204.7 feet. This station would be located outside the southeast corner of this ~eiau. As Mr. Emerson is well versed in native names, his form of the name, noted aver thirty years ago, is probably correct. The heiau is said to have been built by Camehameha 1. All information provided about the Heiau site was from the book, Heiau of the Island of Hawai'i. A Historic Survey of Native Hawaiian Temple Sites by John F.G.Stokes and published by the Bishop Museum Press. WY m nrl,R 4, gvm F { 4F4k d{ Ff 6V : RI : Yry_ I' on to l7Cean 2nfawaz .o a} a r urith over-9 Obf ore n frontage. }yes i v ~a £ I d! VP ~PQh. i Y' k s Y u ~ t ORN 13-7 K` E ' ua k P -IIEV 4m: 1 VVI 21, I o' i to ~!''}{t"*I r ,ayWbrN94~ ~ t{~ !4 k ! 1 y hk"IF a € t F w w x ~ ~ : ~=h t ~y , 9P~t .5 ~ : ? i c r.. Y h t,i w h - ryE°-{~iM r t iilFc lu W4 k4. mq?j ININ MR? WO f t r Y I { 3 ~:y~``g~~ 1 ~d~- V { 1 1F4f N 0.. c , -I " 4 y fnfor plea, „ oar