Haneo`o a me `Aleamai

Aloha Ka po`e Hawai`i,

Today we take ride to the eastern part of Maui, to the little village called Haneo`o. My makuahine was born there as was my ancestors before her. From the ending boundary of Ahupua`a Haneo`o and the begining of Hamoa is where my ancestors dwelt for thousands of years. At the point called Pohakuleiwalu, a name given because the birthing practice of the women of Haneo`o village was to give birth in the sea of `Alau.  Pohakuleiwalu for the eight birthing stones set up in this sacred area. My makuahine was the last in her line to be born at Pohakuleiwalu. Her piko is buried there and her `iewe taken to Haleki`i and buried with our ancestors.

An area where Kiha Wahine, the mo`o goddess lived and where Moanaliha, the famed Mano of east Maui  resided. As I arrived home to Haneo`o, I reflected on these storied `aumakua which was told by my makuahine to me as was told to her by my kupuna. I  hear my tutu ma calling her sisters when they would pick lauhala at Lehoula to weave mats and arguably the site where the oldest fish pond in Hawaii nei was built by `Aiai and Ku`ula. I can see faintly in a distance the pu`u o `i`wi o Pele where Pele left her human form on this hill, hence the name `iwi o Pele and traveled to Hawaii moku in her sprit form.

This area is a sacred to my ancestors. One of our lots was located on the Western border of Loko Nui, an ancient fishpond in Haneo`o. No one really knows when this fish pond was built but people believe that it is as old as Lehoula fish pond. This was the main sustenance for the village of Haneo`o. The front facing wall looking out towards the sea is submerged today. I have walked on this wall as a young man and the width in some areas is 6 to 8 feet wide. In historical testimony during the mid 1800's, this pond was rebuilt by Kamehameha I. The pohaku to rebuild the front facing wall was brought over from Kaupo, a far distance away.

Just mauka of Haneo`o in the village of Haleki`i is where my family lived as well. Haleki`i was located in the Ahupua`a of `Aleamai originally cared for by the priestly line in my family. An area where Hewahewa left his Maui descendants. My great grandfather, a great grandson of Hewahewa was raised at Haleki`i and Haneo`o. `Aleamai was given up during the Mahele by one of our ancestors, Paalua (w) however, my great grandfather still frequented `Aleamai to cultivate taro even though Kaleimakali`i, a cousin to him was awarded `Aleamai. My great grandfather in his old age was told by the family not to go mauka because they feared that the foreign ranchers who now owned the area would not want him on (their) land. Auwe! Right before he passed, he told my grandmother that he was going mauka and for her not to worry. As he started walking up the trail he looked back at her and smiled. My grandmother never saw him again. He went home, to his ancestors!

(A`ole i pau)

http://www.thehawaiiangenealogist.com/



  

Ka'ena, no more desecration

Aloha Ka Po`e Hawaii,

A few years ago me and my family went on a journey with staffers from my former employer. We visited the storied place called Ka`ena. It was early morning with the sun shining bright we made our way through Ka`ena, the same route taken by Ka`opulupulu and his son and where he prepared the chant of betrayal and the huli of our nation to be recited before his last breath. It was like walking into the past, no homes, no roads, just wandering spirits searching for the pathway to Po.

We stopped at Leina and gave our respects. Respects owed by us to our ancestors who make the final leap and are welcomed by the elders who await their return. The connections are intertwined with the `aina, our spirit and our homeland, Kahiki. Pound those pahu loud so our ancestors may hear us, do not stop the chants let it force the Kai`aulu winds to summon the warrior clan of Kakuhihewa ma whose descendants are many. Lihu'e, Makua, Mokuleia is where they are, the keepers of Kukaniloko.

We finally reached Kalae o Ka`ena, turned towards the mountain and gazed at Pue`o and the weather torn cliffs of Nenele`a. Why would these foreigners put up a fence in this area where our Kupuna once held as a Wahi pana, a sacred place? Hewa kela!.............Hewa Kela!

My island Maui

Aloha Ka Po`e Hawai`i,

I'd like to share a project I worked on many years ago. I completed many projects concerning genealogy requests on the Island of Maui. In my 23 years as a researcher of Hawaiian genealogy, I had the privilege of working on a project on the eastern part of the island in a place called Muole`a, next to Koali in the district of Hana. The families who were living their in the mid 1700's were families loyal to Kahekili, high chief of Maui. Kahekili's strong hold or fortress was further mauka above "Drummond Hill" called Makali`i hana`u.
A mystical place where at a certain time of the year if standing on Makali`i hanau, you could reach up and harvest the stars. It was the birthplace of the stars, hence the name Makali`i hanau. At the makai area of Muole`a was a place known as Kanewai, where the sweet waters of Kane quenched ones thirst, in fact I believe the streams or springs mauka was the source of Kane's water. The canoe landing near Hale o Lono was visible and must have been frequently used by Kahekili and his loyalists. In fact, the area makai has a steep ascent with protruding rocks and I am certain this is the place where Kahekili practiced his leap or diving into the ocean. Up until today certain Kua`aina still use the ancient trail that leads down to Kanewai. Families loyal to Kahekili were the Wailehua, Kailakanoa and Mahiole Ohana, just to name a few.

A famous area in the mid 1800's because of Kalakaua's summer palace. In the time of Kalakaua, some hundred years later, many of the tenants living at Muole`a were intermarried. AN AWESOME journey back into the past!

thehawaiiangenealogist.com

(A`ole i pau) to be continued

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Beautiful Kaua`i

Aloha Ka Po`e Hawaii,

This past July we had the privilege of being a part of a special engagement on the island of Kaua`i. I was asked to be best man in a wedding that took place on July 3. We had a wonderful time there and decided to extend our visit a few days after the wedding. We took a road trip to the West side of Kaua`i and it was awesome. It was a clear day so we were able to see Ni`ihau in the distance. I was amazed to see the majestic cliffs that faced us. It looked as if someone reeached down from the heavens and carve those steep cliffs. I wondered how life would have been living on that island or if the other islands were to live like the people of Ni`ihau. My wife's family is from Ni`ihau and this day was very special to her. We kept on sight seeing and continued to the Waimea Canyon. As we ascended higher and higher the island of Ni`ihau seem to be following us as we our made our journey to Waimea Valley. E ho`i mai!, E ho`i mai! [return!, return!] the ancestors are calling us!

It was a humlbing experience. We left moku o kakuhihewa, went to moku o kalanipo`o and saw from a distance, moku o kahelelani.


O wau no,


thehawaiiangenealogist.com

A`ole i pau (to be continued)

Aloha e Po`e Hawaii,

Welcome to the `Aina Momona blog. This blog is set up to share historical, cultural and traditional stories and experiences in the Hawaiian Islands. I'd like to share an experience I had while working as a Paralegal for a non profit Law Firm in Hawaii. I was working on a case involving land on Moloka`i. We scheduled a site visit with the plaintiff in the case. As we were taken up a winding road, slightly above the base of the mountain where the subject property was located, veering to the left of us I saw what appeared to be a three tier heiau. Wow! what a view. The heiau appeared to be located on the border of one of the `Ahupua`a. This was an awesome sight! As I stared over the valley, I started to imagine how this incredible feature was formed and eventually completed. A glimpse into the past, I saw kanaka passing pohaku, I saw the warriors preparing for battle and I saw Kahuna gazing at the heavens. A lot of people think its just a pile of rocks but what they don't realize is the impresive engineering to achieve this feat. A very humbling experience, Moloka`i nui a Hina! Ua ha`aha`a no wau,

thehawaiiangenealogist.com

A`ole i pau (to be continued)