A Kamehameha Schools initiative to serve more Hawaiians.

MOLOKA‘IWhere I Live

by Julie Stewart Williamsillustrated by Robin Yoko Racoma

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLSExtension Education Division

Hawaiian Studies Institute

Honolulu, Hawai‘i2004

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

Copyright © 2004 by Kamehameha Schools

All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced

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Inquiries should be addressed to:

Hawaiian Studies InstituteExtension Education Division

Kamehameha Schools1887 Makuakane Street

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 0-87336-078-8

12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dedicated to

Na Keiki o Moloka‘iThe Children of Moloka‘i

CONTENTS

Dedication ............................................................................................................iii

Definition of Ahupua‘a..........................................................................................iv

Definition of Moloka‘i ..........................................................................................xi

WEST MOLOKA‘I................................................................................................8AHUPUA‘A:

Kaluako‘i: “the adz pit” ................................................................................12

CENTRAL MOLOKA‘I ......................................................................................15AHUPUA‘A:

Pala‘au: “wooden fence” ........................................................................................16

Kıpu: “hold back” ................................................................................................17

Manowainui: “great water source” ........................................................................17

‘Iloli: “yearning, longing” ......................................................................................18

Ho‘olehua: “swift and strong” ..............................................................................18

Na‘iwa: “the frigate birds” ....................................................................................19

Kahanui: “a large place” ........................................................................................20

Kalama‘ula: “the red torch”....................................................................................21

Kaunakakai; its old name wasKaunakahakai: “beach landing” ....................................................................22

Kapa‘akea: “coral surface” ....................................................................................22

Kamiloloa: “the tall milo tree” ..............................................................................23

Makakupa‘ia: “many red eyes” ..............................................................................23

Kawela: “the heat” ................................................................................................24

SOUTHEAST MOLOKA‘I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25AHUPUA‘A:

Makolelau: “many red eyes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Kapuaoko‘olau: “the flower of [the]windward” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Keoneku‘ino: “the sand rises [in the] storm” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Kamalo; its old name was Kamalo‘o: “the dry place” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Kapualei: “the flower [for the] lei”or Kapulei: “sacred lei” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Kumu‘eli: “digging for the source” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Wawa‘ia: “noisy” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Pua‘ahala: “passing pig” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Ka‘amola: “loose, unsteady” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Keawanui: “the big bay” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

West & East ‘Ohi‘a: “ ‘ohi‘a tree” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Manawai: “water branch” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Kahananui: “the great work” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

‘Ualapu‘e: “hilled sweet potatoes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Kalua‘aha: “the gathering pit” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Mapulehu: “may be a contraction of mapu (wafted scent) and pulehu (broil)” . . . .35

Puko‘o: “support hill”and Puna‘ula: “red spring” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Kupeke: “stunted” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

‘Aha‘ino: “unpleasant gathering” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Ka‘iu‘ula: “the red skin” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Honomuni, Kamanoni & Kawaikapu: “the sacred water” . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Kainalu: “billowy sea” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

SOUTHEAST MOLOKA‘I (continued)AHUPUA‘A:

Pu‘elelu: “cockroach hill” & Puniu‘ohua: “young fish coconut shell” . . . . . . .39

Waialua “two waters” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Moanui: “big chicken” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Kumimi: named for a crab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Honouliwai: “wet Honouli” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Honoulimalo‘o: “dry Honouli” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Lupehu: “scatter swelling” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Pohakupili: “joined stone” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Moakea: “white chicken” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Mokuho‘oniki IslandKanaha Rock

Keopuka ‘U‘uku: “small Keopuka” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Keopuka: “the perforated sand”

Keopuka Loa: “long Keopuka” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Lanikaula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Niheukawa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

NORTHEAST MOLOKA‘I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47AHUPUA‘A:

Halawa: “curve” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Wailau: “many waters” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Pelekunu: “smelly (for lack of sunshine)” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Waikolu: “three waters” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Kalawao: “announce mountain area” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Makanalua: “double gift” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Kalaupapa: “the flat plain” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

HAWAIIAN VOCABULARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

HAWAIIAN VOCABULARY

Page 1 mokupuni: island‘aina: land

Page 2 ‘ohana: family, relativekupuna: grandparents, ancestors

Page 7 Hawai‘i nei: this beloved Hawai‘i

Page 8 Kona: leeward; side away from the windmoku: districtheiau: place of worshipko‘a: fishing shrine of coral or stone

Page 9 loko i‘a: fishpond. Fishponds were built in the shallow waters along Moloka‘i’s south shore. Walls were made of carefully laid stone. Fish and other sealife were stored and fattened in ponds. A special gate called “makaha” let small fish enter but kept larger ones on the inside fromleaving. Some ponds were natural freshwater ponds. Fish raised in ponds belonged to a chief.

Page 20 menehune: legendary race of small people

Page 21 kahua: a field for gamesmaika: ancient Hawaiian game similar to bowling

Page 22 Malama: light, month, moon (Kamehameha V’s beach home)

Page 32 kapa: tapa or cloth made from the wauke or mamaki bark for clothing

Page 33 ‘ulu maika: stone used in maika game

Page 40 poi: taro corms cooked, pounded, and kneaded to a dough-like consistency

Page 47 Ko‘olau: windward; side from which the wind blows

Page 55 holua: ancient sled used on grassy slopes

57

BIBLIOGRAPHYDepartment of Geography, University of Hawaii. Atlas of Hawaii, Second Edition. Honolulu:

University of Hawaii Press, 1983.

James, Van. Ancient Sites of Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 2001.

Kepler, Angela Kay and Cameron B. Kepler. Majestic Molokai: A Nature Lover’s Guide. Honolulu:

Mutual Publishing, 1992.

Kirch, Patrick Vinton. Feathered Gods and Fishhooks. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1985.

Ne, Harriet with Gloria L. Cronin. Tales of Molokai. Honolulu: The Institute for Polynesian Studies,

1992.

Pukui, Mary Kawena and Samuel H. Elbert. Hawaiian Dictionary (revised and enlarged edition).

Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1986.

Pukui, Mary Kawena. ‘Olelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings. Honolulu: Bishop Museum

Press, 1983.

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Samuel H. Elbert and Esther T. Mookini. Place Names of Hawaii. Honolulu:

University of Hawaii Press, 1984.

Pukui, Mary Kawena and Caroline Curtis. Tales of the Menehune (Revised Edition). Honolulu:

Kamehameha Schools Press, 1985.

Summers, Cathrine C. Molokai: A Site Survey. Honolulu: Department of Anthropology, Bernice Pauahi

Bishop Museum, 1970.

“Mahalo” to friends who shared their mana‘o about Moloka‘i:Louise Bush

Carinthia Harbottle

John Kaimikaua

Rev. David Kaupu

Ron Kimball

Bruce Lum

Pearl Petro

Steve Petro

58

AdministrationJuvenna Chang, Ed. D., DeanTerry Kelly, Associate Dean

Board of TrusteesNainoa Thompson, ChairDiane J. Plotts, Vice Chair

Robert K. U. Kihune, Secretary/TreasurerJ. Douglas Ing

Constance H. Lau

Chief Executive OfficerDee Jay A. Mailer

Vice PresidentsKirk O. Belsby, Endowment

Charlene Hoe, Interim, EducationMichael P. Loo, Finance & Administration

Ray C. Soon, Community Relations & CommunicationsColleen I. Wong, Legal Affairs

Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

Hawaiian Studies Institute

E. Kaiponohea Hale, DirectorAdeline “Addie” Carpio, Administrative Assistant

(808) 842-8214

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