Categories

December 11, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Lot Kamehameha

“Use no deception.
Be always pleasant and cheerful.
Try to make your teachers
and all around you happy.
Have a place for everything
and everything in its place.”
(His New Year’s Resolution at age 12)

He died on his 42nd birthday (December 11, 1830 – December 11, 1872.) He was given the Christian name Lot and the Hawaiian name Kapuāiwa, which means ‘mysterious kapu’ (taboo) or ‘the sacred one protected by supernatural powers.’ His full name was Lot Kapuāiwa Kalanimakua Aliʻiolani Kalani Kapuapaikalaninui. (ksbe)

His mother was Kīnaʻu, a daughter of Kamehameha I (she became the Kuhina nui, in 1832.) His father was Mataio Kekūanāoʻa, a descendent of the Chiefs of the Island of Oʻahu (he was governor of Oʻahu, as well as a member of the House of Nobles and the Privy Council.)

Lot was most often called Lot Kamehameha and that is how he signed his letters and other writings. (ksbe) He had three brothers and a sister.

They were, David Kamehameha, who was three years older; Moses Kekūāiwa, who was two years older; Alexander Liholiho, the future Kamehameha IV, who was four years younger, and Victoria Kamāmalu, the youngest of the children. (David died in 1835 at the age of seven. Moses was nineteen years old when he died in 1848.) (ksbe)

Lot Kapuāiwa was hānai to Chief Hoapili of Lahaina and Princess Nahiʻenaʻena (daughter of Kamehameha I and Keōpūolani; she was sister to Liholiho and Kauikeaouli (they were later Kamehameha II and III.))

At age 9, he entered the Chiefs’ Children’s School. The aliʻi wanted their children trained in Western, as well as Hawaiian traditions and Kamehameha III asked missionaries Amos and Juliette Cooke to teach the young royals; in 1848, at age 18, he ended his schooling there to work for the government.

Lot went to work in Honolulu Hale, a government office building on Merchant Street. There he kept record books and wrote or copied documents. Because he knew both English and Hawaiian he also translated government papers. (ksbe)

From the time they were children Lot and Pauahi were expected to marry each other. This had been planned by their parents. It had traditionally been the custom for chiefs to choose suitable mates for their aliʻi children.

When Pauahi was about sixteen years old, however, she fell in love with Charles Reed Bishop. Her parents, Konia and Paki, were not happy at the thought of her marrying a foreigner. Pauahi was not happy at the thought of marrying Lot. (ksbe)

In 1849, Lot and Alexander Liholiho (his brother) began their year-long trip to the United States and Europe. They returned to Hawaiʻi in September 1850, three months after Pauahi’s marriage to Mr. Bishop. Lot never married.

The brothers’ training as leaders continued. Kamehameha III saw to it that they had suitable work in government positions. Nineteen-year-old Lot was appointed a member of the House of Nobles.

It was much like being a senator in Hawaiʻi’s legislature today. Lot was also made general of a division in the Hawaiian kingdom’s army. (ksbe)

Kamehameha III died in 1854. Alexander Liholiho, his hānai son and chosen heir to the throne, became Kamehameha IV; Lot served as the Minister of Interior.

Kamehameha IV ruled for nine years. Lot ascended to the throne as Kamehameha V on November 30, 1863, on the death of his brother.

“He was a master in the beginning, & at the middle, & to the end. The Parliament was the “figure-head,” & it never was much else in his time. … He hated Parliaments, as being a rasping & useless incumbrance upon a king, but he allowed them to exist because as an obstruction they were more ornamental than rival.” (Twain)

“He surrounded himself with an obsequious royal Cabinet of American & other foreigners, & he dictated his measures to them &, through them, to his Parliament; & the latter institution opposed them respectfully, not to say apologetically, & passed them.” (Twain)

Kamehameha V modeled his leadership after that of his grandfather, Kamehameha I, believing that it was the right and duty of the chiefs to lead the common people. He refused to support the Constitution of 1852. By supporting the controversial Constitution of 1864, he expected to regain some of the powers lost by previous kings. (ksbe)

“He was not a fool. He was a wise sovereign; he had seen something of the world; he was educated & accomplished, & he tried hard to do well for his people, & succeeded. There was no rival nonsense about him; he dressed plainly, poked about Honolulu, night or day, on his old horse, unattended; he was popular, greatly respected, & even beloved.” (Twain)

In 1865, a bill to repeal the law making it a penal offense to sell or give intoxicating liquor to native Hawaiians was brought before the legislature. Strongly supported by some, Kamehameha surprised the supporters saying, “I will never sign the death warrant of my people.” The measure was defeated in the second reading. (Alexander)

Kamehameha V founded the Royal Order of Kamehameha on April 11, 1865 in commemoration of his grandfather, Kamehameha I. The stated purpose of the order was “to cultivate and develop, among our subjects, the feelings of honour and loyalty to our dynasty and its institutions ….” (Royal Order)

Hansen’s Disease was rapidly spreading on Oʻahu. The legislature passed “An Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy” in 1865, which King Kamehameha V approved – it called for the isolation and seclusion of leprous persons. The first shipment of lepers landed at Kalaupapa January 6, 1866, the beginning of segregation and banishment of lepers to the leper settlement.

The Kamehameha V Post Office (built in 1871, one of the oldest remaining public buildings in Hawaiʻi, and so named because it was built at the direction of Kamehameha V) was the first post office building in Hawaiʻi. (NPS) On February 19, 1872, Kamehameha V laid the cornerstone for Aliʻiolani Hale (now home to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.)

December 11, Lot Kapuāiwa celebrated the first Kamehameha Day in 1871 as a day to honor his grandfather; the first celebration fell on Lot’s birthday.

Because the weather was better in the summer, the decision was made to move the Kamehameha I celebration six months from the King Kamehameha V’s birthday (so it was moved to June 11 – the date has no direct significance to Kamehameha I.) The 1896 legislature declared it a national holiday. (Kamehameha Day continues to be celebrated on June 11.)

“On the 10th (of December, 1872,) (Liliʻuokalani and her husband) were summoned to the palace to attend the dying monarch; one by one other chiefs of the Hawaiian people, with a few of their trusted retainers, also arrived to be present at the final scene;…”

“… we spent that night watching in silence near the king’s bedside. The disease was pronounced by the medical men to be dropsy on the chest (hydrothorax, accumulation of fluid in the chest.”) (Liliʻuokalani)

“Although nearing the end, the mind of the king was still clear; and his thoughts, like our own, were evidently on the selection of a future ruler for the island kingdom …”

“… turning to Mrs. Bishop, he asked her to assume the reins of government and become queen at his death.” She declined. “… he relapsed into unconsciousness, and passed away without having named his successor to the throne.” (Liliʻuokalani) (Lunalilo was shortly after elected King of Hawaiʻi.)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Prince_Lot_Kapuaiwa_(PP-97-9-007)

Princes Alexander Iolani Liholiho Keawenu (Kamehameha IV) and Lot Kapuaiwa (Kamehameha V) with Dr. Gerrit P Judd (center)-(nih-gov)

Gerrit_Judd_Alexander_Liholihoi-Lot Kapuaiwa-PP-97-8-009-1850

Kamehameha_V-PPWD-15-6-016-1865

Kamehameha_V-Lot Kapuaiwa

ROOK_Blue_Seal

8-Aliiolani_Hale-1875

Kapuaiwa_Grove,_Kaunakakai,_Molokai

Royal Hawaiian Hotel-screened_patio-HSA-1890

Richards_Street-Hawaiian_Hotel-1890

Aliiolani_Hale-LOC-ca1870

Kamehameha_V_Post_Office-(WC)

Merchant street looking toward Waikiki. Kamehameha V Post Office in left foreground, right rear Bishop Bank-1885

2011_Blue_Girls_Halau-(MoanaluaGardensFoundation)

2011_Red_Halau-(MoanaluaGardensFoundation)

2011_ROOK-(MoanaluaGardensFoundation)

Kamehameha Hall in Hilo, meeting house of the Royal Order of King Kamehameha

December 10, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Watershed Partnerships

I have often said these are one of Hawai‘i’s best untold stories.

Let’s look back …

Hawaiʻi’s native forests evolved over millions of years to become one of the most remarkable natural assemblages on Earth. Yet since the onset of human arrival, about 1,000-years ago, their history has largely been one of loss and destruction.

The worst damage occurred during the 19th century, when cattle and other introduced livestock were allowed to multiply and range unchecked throughout the Islands, laying waste to hundreds of thousands of acres of native forest.

The situation became so dire that the captains of government and industry realized that if the destruction continued there would be no water for growing sugarcane, the Islands’ emerging economic mainstay. (TNC)

On May 13, 1903, the Territory of Hawaiʻi, with the backing of the Hawaiʻi Sugar Planters’ Association, established the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry. (HDOA)

That year, the Territorial Legislature created Hawaiʻi’s forest reserve system, ushering in a new era of massive public-private investment in forest restoration.

With Hawai‘i’s increase in population, expanding ranching industry, and extensive agricultural production of sugarcane and later pineapple, early territorial foresters recognized the need to protect mauka (upland) forests to provide the necessary water requirements for the lowland agriculture demands and surrounding communities. (DOFAW)

After more than a century of massive forest loss and destruction, the Territory of Hawai‘i acknowledged that preservation of the forest was vital to the future economic prosperity of the Islands.

While forest reserves were important watersheds, their boundaries were drawn “so as not to interfere with revenue-producing lands,” and such lands were not generally thought to be useful for agriculture. (hawaii-edu)

Forest reserves were useful for two primary purposes: water production for the Territory’s agricultural industries, and timber production to meet the growing demand for wood products. The forest reserve system should not lead to “the locking up from economic use of a certain forest area.” (Hosmer)

Even in critical watersheds the harvesting of old trees “is a positive advantage, in that it gives the young trees a chance to grow, while at the same time producing a profit from the forests.” (LRB)

Forest Reserves are commonly known and were critical steps forward in protecting our mauka resources. But, while they are the foundation of the focus of this summary, it is what happened 100-years later, and that continue today, that folks should also be aware of … Watershed Partnerships.

Watershed Partnerships are voluntary alliances of private and public landowners and others working collaboratively with common goals of conservation, preservation and management of Hawai‘i’s precious natural and cultural resources to protect forested watersheds for water recharge, conservation and other ecosystem services.

The first Watershed Partnership was formed in 1991 on East Maui when several public and private landowners realized the benefits of working together to ensure the conservation of a shared watershed that provided billions of gallons of fresh water to the area.

In the following years six more watershed partnerships formed including, Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership, East Molokai Watershed Partnership, West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, Lanaʻi Forest and Watershed Partnership, The Kauai Watershed Alliance, Kohala Watershed Partnership. The success of these partnerships highlighted the need to address watershed issues statewide.

One of the first forestry-related actions I worked on while I was Chair of DLNR related to Watershed Partnerships. We worked to get the independent Watershed Partnerships into a cooperative association.

On April 24, 2003, the 100th-anniversary of Hawaiʻi’s Forest Reserve System, Governor Linda Lingle and the seven existing watershed partnerships signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally recognizing the State’s dedication to watershed protection and established the Hawai`i Association of Watershed Partnerships.

Four additional watershed partnerships, Leeward Haleakalā Watershed Restoration Partnership, Three Mountain Alliance, Waiʻanae Mountains Watershed Partnership and Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance have since been established. (HAWP)

Most management actions “blur” boundary lines (they are habitat, rather than ownership, based) and revolve around combating the main threats to forests: feral animals (such as goats, deer, sheep, pigs, etc) and invasive species.

Actions include fencing and animal removal, invasive species control, rare plant outplanting and native habitat restoration, and outreach and education.

These management actions make a critical difference by benefitting native forests, watersheds, coastal and coral reef areas by reducing erosion and sedimentation run-off into streams.

Together, eleven separate partnerships involve approximately 75 private landowners and public agencies that cover nearly 2-million acres of land in the state (about half the land area of the state.) There is no model like it with respect to watershed management breadth, scope and success.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Forest-Ferns-Moss

wainihavalley-l

Native forest, Alakai Plateau, Kauai

kauaiwaterfalls-afar-l

Aerial of Olokele Valley, Kauai

Iliiliula north falls with ohia lehua blossom in foreground, Kauai

Iliiliula North Falls, Kauai

Laau ridge, Alakai region, Kauai

Native landscape, Kalalau Valley, Na Pali coast, Kauai

Native landscape,Alakai Plateau, Kauai

HAWP-signing-ceremony-2003

HAWP-LOGO

WMMWP-LOGO

WAI-ANAE-Logo

threemountainalliance

lhwrp-circle-logo

LFWP-logo

KWP-LOGO

KWA-LOGO

KMWP-LOGO

EMoWP

east-maui

Watershed-Map-910

Watershed Partnerships State-map

December 7, 2015 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

A Dauntless Collides With a Val

Pilot, Ensign John HL Vogt; Radioman-gunner, Third Class Sidney Pierce
Pilot, Petty Officer 2nd Class Koreyoshi Toyama (Sotoyama); Flier 1st Class Hajime Murao

A pair of enemy planes apparently collided on the morning of December 7, 1941 – reports from the scene at the time suggest they also crashed at the same spot on the ʻEwa Plain.

Let’s look back …

In the early morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese pilots flew toward the island of Oʻahu from six aircraft carriers (the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku;) two attack waves of planes attacked various military installations on Oʻahu (a third group attacked ʻEwa as part of a rear guard action.)

The prearranged coded signal “East wind, rain,” part of the weather forecast broadcast over Radio Tokyo, alerted Japanese Consul General Nagao Kita in Honolulu, and others, that the attack on Pearl Harbor had begun.

The first wave of 183-planes (43-fighters, 49-high-level bombers, 51-dive bombers and 40-torpedo planes) struck its targets at 7:55 am. The second wave of 167-Japanese planes (35-fighters, 54-horizontal bombers and 78-dive bombers) struck Oʻahu beginning at 8:40 am.

Perhaps twenty American fighter planes managed to get off the ground the morning of December 7, 1941. Most of them were shot down, but their actions accounted for six victories in the one-sided aerial battle. (Castagnaro and Padilla)

The USS Enterprise was at sea during the attack, it was shuttling Army Air Force, as well as Navy planes, from West Coast ports to Pearl Harbor, and to outlying detachments on Wake and Guam further west.

She departed on November 28 carrying Marine pilots and their planes to Wake Island, flying them off on December 2 before turning east to return to Pearl Harbor.

Forced to slow by a storm system, which also sheltered the Japanese Combined Fleet advancing on Oʻahu, Enterprise missed her expected return date to Pearl Harbor: December 6. Instead, she was 150-miles west when the Japanese attacked. (CV6-org)

When approaching the Islands, the Enterprise sent out scout dive bombers, which flew in ahead of the ship; unaware of the attack, they were caught in the initial Japanese attack.

One of those was a ‘Dauntless’ manned by Ensign John HL Vogt (pilot) and Third Class Sidney Pierce (radioman-gunner.) Vogt had become separated from his section leader during the Pearl-bound flight in from the carrier; he may have circled off-shore, and then arrived to encounter the dive bombers near ʻEwa. (Cressmand & Wenger)

The Japanese were flying Aichi D3A (Type 99 Navy Dive Bomber – later referred to as ‘Val’ aircraft.) During the Pearl Harbor attack the Japanese dive bombers flew in units of three who looked out for one another.

The Val was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in WWII. It was the primary dive bomber in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and participated in almost all actions in the war.

One of those was manned by Petty Officer 2nd Class Koreyoshi Toyama (Sotoyama) (pilot) and Flier 1st Class Hajime Murao. Toyama attacked the USS Pennsylvania in Drydock 1. His bomb missed and hit the dock itself. (Cole)

Other than flying over Pearl Harbor, flying back to their aircraft carrier was the second most difficult part of their mission because the air units had to regroup initially over ʻEwa and then proceed to further geographic points – Barbers Point and Kaʻena Point, before heading out to sea northwest of Oʻahu and finding their respective aircraft carriers approximately 200-miles away. (Bond)

Neither of these planes made it back to their respective ships.

One report notes Vogt entered a low altitude dogfight with at least two Japanese planes. He trailed one as best it could until the Japanese plane pulled up sharply and stalled, causing the two to collide in an explosion that brought both plans down. (AECOM)

This was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Larkin who saw an American plane and a Japanese plane collide in mid-air a short distance away from the ʻEwa Field. In all probability, Larkin saw the Dauntless collide with a Val. (marines-mil) (Other reports note each was separately shot down.)

The American crew bailed out, but were too low an altitude; both were found dead in the trees when their chutes failed to deploy. Neither of the Japanese crewmen escaped their Val when it crashed. (Cressmand & Wenger)

According to several reports, the two planes ended up in the same spot, at what is today the vicinity of the Hoakalei Golf Course club house. (Bond)

“Investigation disclosed two of our fliers, Ensign JHB Vogt, USNR, and Pierce Sidney, RM 3c, both of the USS Enterprise, were casualties. Two Japanese pilots, both badly burned, were also in the wreck.” (Milz)

Toyama’s two wingmen flew over the crash site, possibly trying to determine if either of the Japanese crew had somehow made it out of the burning crash. They then made a strafing pass before flying away. (Lots of information here from Bond)

The image shows the crash site on the ʻEwa Plain (note the two Japanese support planes circling the site.) (Photographed by Staff Sergeant Lee Embree from a US Army 38th Reconnaissance Squadron B-17E that arrived over Oahu during the Japanese attack. (navy-mil, notation by Bond)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

LEmbree-1B

LEmbree-2B

Lee-Embree1B

Japanese Val

Crash Site-05-1942

Ewa-Crash-2

Dauntless flies over Enterprise-Dec1942

Akagi_D3A1

Ewa_1933-Map-1

Haseko-Crash-1B

Notebook-1

Hiryu 1st Chutai_001

Ewa_23May1942 (2)

Ewa_9Dec1941

Pearl Harbor-First Attack

December 5, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kanaʻina

Kekāuluohi (the niece and former wife of Kamehameha I) became one of the wives of Kamehameha II; but when Christianity was introduced in the Islands, Kamehameha II allowed her to marry Kanaʻina (descended from Līloa of Waipiʻo, Hawaiʻi and Piʻilani of Maui.)

Reportedly Kanaʻina was named after his uncle Kanaʻina I, a name that means “The conquering;” it is said Kanaʻina I was one of the two chiefs along with Palea who may have struck to final blow, killing Captain Cook in 1779.

High Chief Charles Kanaʻina and High Chiefess Kekāuluohi “are among the most interesting of the aristocracy; and, of their claims to respect and attention, we needed no other proof, than that afforded on the present occasion.” (Stewart, 1831)

Kanaʻina was a noble of Hawaiʻi and a man of wisdom; Kekāuluohi, was a beautiful woman of large stature. After the death of Kamehameha the Great she took the name ʻAuhea, meaning “where has he gone.” Her Christian name was Miriam (during the reign of Kamehameha III she was Kuhina Nui (Premier) and known as Kaʻahumanu III.) (Galuteria)

“They both write with great readiness; and (Kanaʻina) with a freedom and command of hand that would class him among good penman anywhere.”

“The entrance (to their home) is by a large folding door—the lower pannels painted green, and the upper part of glass—into a spacious room floored with mats, and furnished, as that we had left, in its whole length on one side with an inviting lounge, and, on the opposite, with a side table and mirror.”

“A semicircle of chairs, with a centre table, occupied the middle; and at each of the further corners, stood a handsome cabinet, surmounted by a bookcase top, with glass doors and silk hangings.”

“At the one, the lady of the house was seated, and at the other her husband ; both engaged in writing, with books, slates, and papers around them.” (Stewart, 1831)

in 1834, they built an elegant two story house of rock coral, near the mission houses, at Honolulu, “received and entertained, one evening, at a well-furnished table, thirty-three missionaries, including men and women, presiding herself with the dignity of a Christian matron.” (Bingham)

They had two sons, Davida (who died quite young) and William. His mother was ambitious for William and she said others are high in rank but this is highest of all and he shall be named “Lunalilo”, that is so far up on high as to be lost out of sight – “luna” meaning above and “lilo” lost. (HHS)

Lunalilo’s parents wanted him to have the best possible education. They enrolled him in the Chiefs’ Children’s School which was being established for the children of Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi.

It was a boarding school where the children lived away from their homes. Mr. and Mrs. Amos Starr Cooke were the teachers. When the school opened its doors in 1839 Lunalilo stepped in as one of its first pupils. He was just four years old. (Galuteria)

He received “a liberal English education, and as he possessed naturally a quick mind, he became one of the best scholars in the school. For English classical literature he had great fondness, and “his familiarity with the English poets was remarkable.”

Lunalilo later served as a writer for Robert C Wyllie, the foreign minister. However, Lunalilo was never offered any employment or responsibility by the ruling king. He was never given any public office by any king. He was never asked to travel abroad officially. He was kept on a small allowance of money. His cousin, King Kamehameha V, ignored him.

Lunalilo had many fine qualities. In spite of his many fine qualities he was overcome by one weakness. He became addicted to liquor.

In 1858 Kanaʻina, out of love and concern for his son, petitioned the court to appoint guardians for him. Lunalilo agreed to this idea even though he was twenty-three years old. So the court appointed his father and two others, Dr. Richard Armstrong and James W Austin, as guardians.

The prince remained under guardianship for fourteen years. His last guardians were Kanaʻina and Charles Reed Bishop, husband of Princess Bernice Pauahi. On December 31, 1872, after the death of Kamehameha V, the Probate Court ended the guardianship when it appeared that Lunalilo would be the next king. (Galuteria)

Prince David Kalākaua and others not in the Kamehameha lineage chose to run against Prince Lunalilo. At noon on January 8, 1873, the Legislature met, as required by law, in the Courthouse to cast their official ballots of election of the next King. Lunalilo received all thirty-seven votes.

On Tuesday February 3, 1874, at 8:50 pm King Lunalilo died at thirty-nine years of age. Those present around his bed included His Highness Charles Kanaʻina, the king’s father; the Honorable Mrs Bernice Pauahi Bishop; Her Excellency Ruth Keʻelikolani; the Honorable Mrs Fanny Naʻea; Robert Stirling, minister of finance and two attending physicians, Dr George P Trousseau and Dr Richard Oliver.

Before his death Lunalilo did not name a successor to the throne. As the people had selected him, so he insisted that the choice of the next monarch should rest in the hands of the people. (Galuteria)

The featured image shows Kaʻahumanu; several claim the young attendant and kahili bearer is Kanaʻina, father of the future King of the Islands.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Reportedly-Kanaʻina was kāhili bearer and attendant to Ka’ahumanu

Portrait_of_Kanaina,_a_chief_of_the_Sandwich_Islands-Webber-1778

Portrait of Kanaina, a chief of the Sandwich Islands – one of the two chiefs along with Palea-he may have struck to final blow to Cook-1779

Kanaina and Lunalilo

Kanaina_(PP-97-12-002)

Pa’u riders in front of the Kanaina Bldg., Iolani Palace Grounds-PP-34-3-002

Kanaina-Archives_Building

December 4, 2015 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Hālawa

“Early the next morning, with a pleasant breeze from the NE, we stood over towards the east point of Mororoi (Molokai.) … we sailed to the westward … In this the land rises rather abruptly from the sea, towards the lofty mountains in the center of the east part of Morotoi …”

“… and though the acclivity was great, yet the face of the country, diversified by eminences and vallies, bore a verdant and fertile appearance. It seemed to be well inhabited, in a high state of cultivation, and presented not only a rich but a romantic prospect.” (Captain George Vancouver, March 19, 1793)

“… a beautiful deep valley….watered by a large and delightful stream of fresh water which falls from the mountains…in two grand and beautiful cataracts one of which rushes over a perpendicular decent of more than five hundred feet into a deep…and crystal lake”.

“The stream which issues from the lake … is so situated as to be easily drawn off by sluices into the taro plots…. the valley is principally laid out in these small rectangular plots …” (Hitchcock, 1833; NPS)

In 1877, a native Hawaiian described Hālawa “as a very fertile valley, with wild fruits, mountain shrimps, and much water in the streams…. There were nine hundred and thirteen taro patches and with the hundred and nine others that I hadn’t counted, they totaled a thousand and thirty-two patches. Most of the land is covered in taro”. (NPS)

“The glimpses of Molokai which one obtains from a steamer’s deck while passing to Honolulu from San Francisco or in passing to and from Maui (along its south shore,) give the impression that the island is bleak, mountainous and desolate.”

“Skirting its (north) shores on the Hālawa, Wailua and Pelekunu sides on Wilder’s fine steamer Likelike, gives a far different picture. For miles sheer precipices rise from the sea and tower 1,500 feet into the air.”

“Now and then, and sometimes in groups, beautiful waterfalls are seen on the face of the cliff, now falling in clear view for a couple of hundred feet, now hidden under denses masses of foliage, only to reappear further down, another silvery link In the watery thread which ends In a splash and scintillating mist in the breakers below.” (Hawaiian Gazette, March 31, 1905)

The windward valleys developed into areas of intensive irrigated taro cultivation and seasonal migrations took place to stock up on fish and precious salt for the rest of the year. Kalaupapa was well known for its bountiful ʻuala (sweet potato) crops and its fine-grained, white salt which was preferred over that from the salt ponds of Kawela and Kaunakakai. (Strazar)

John FG Stokes, who was Curator of Polynesian Ethnology at Bishop Museum, was sent to Molokai in 1909 to survey the remains of the ancient Hawaiian temples (heiau) found there. Stokes recorded thirteen medium-sized heiau distributed along the lower slopes and two large luakini heiau.

Molokai used to be referred to as ʻAina Momona (the bountiful land,) reflecting the great productivity of the island and its surrounding ocean.

It is about 38-miles long and 10-miles wide, an area of 260-square miles, making it the 5th largest of the main Hawaiian Islands (and the 27th largest island in the US.)

The island was formed by two volcanoes, East and West, emerging about 1.5-2-million years ago. The cliffs on the north-eastern part of the island are the result of subsidence and the “Wailua Slump” (a giant submarine landslide – about 25-miles long that tumbled about 120-miles offshore – about 1.4-million years ago.)

Hālawa Valley is the easternmost valley at the edge of Molokai’s north shore; four other major valleys span the coastline, from Hālawa westward toward Kalaupapa: from east to west they are Papalaua, Wailau, Pelekunu and Waikolu.

Archeological surveys indicate that by the 1300s, Hālawa Valley’s population had expanded inland, and small irrigation systems were developed along the streams.

By the 1600s, an extensive taro irrigation system dominated the valley’s settlement pattern. At that time, the lower valley was entirely covered in large rectangular fields watered by long irrigation ditches (taro loʻi made up about 55-acres of land.)

Hitchcock who established the first permanent Mission Station at Kaluaʻaha in 1832, gave a census figure of 6,000 for the island. (Strazar)

These early counts were generally taken in the field by both native school teachers and missionaries. During this period, the Reverends Hitchcock and Smith preached once a week at seven different stations from Kamaloʻo to Hālawa, and in 1833 they estimated the population of the entire island to be about 3,300. (Strazar)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger