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)

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