AISP Kamehameha Highway Guideway - Honolulu Rail Transit Project

Cultural Surveys Hawai‘i Job Code: MANANA 1
Background Research
Waiawa), they turned to look at Ewa and when they saw the fish ponds at
Waiawa, they said, “May the fish ponds down at Waiawa be as the stars in the sky
above. May there be mullets a Kuhia-loko, fine sea weeds at Kuhia-waho, salt at
Ninauele, the single fruited coconut at Hapenui, the taro greens at Mokaalika and
the water of Kaaimalu, to remove the bitterness of the awa of Kalahikuola.” This
was the last thing they did before returning to Maihea’s house. They drank awa
again that afternoon. They spent the remainder of the day going to Puuloa. The
result of this was that Maihea obtained the knowledge of the priesthood, oratory
and so on. This was the first time that these arts were practiced here in Hawaii.
[Ka Loea Kalaiaina July 1, 1899, cited in Sterling and Summers 1978:5-6].
King Kalākaua relates a story of Naulu-a-Maihea, a well-known prophet who resided in
Waimalu:
At that time there lived at Waimalu, in the district of Ewa, the celebrated priest
and prophet Naula-a-Maihea. No one in the Hawaiian priesthood of the past was
ever more feared or respected. It was thought by some that he had visited the
shadowy realms of Milu, and from Paliuli had brought back the waters of life. He
must have been well on in years, for, as already mentioned, he is credited with
having been the priest of Laa-mai-kahiki on the romantic journey of that prince
from the southern islands.
In evidence of the great sanctity of Naula, tradition relates that his canoe was
upset during a journey from Waianae, Oahu, to Kauai. He was swallowed by a
whale, in whose stomach he remained without inconvenience until the monster
crossed the channel and vomited him up alive on the beach at Waialua, Kauai, the
precise place of his destination. At another time, when crossing to Hawaii, and
beset with adverse winds, two huge black sharks, sent by Mooalii, the shark-god
of Molokai, towed him to Kohala so swiftly that the sea-birds could scarcely keep
him company.
He built a heiau at Waimalu, the foundations of which may still be traced, and in
the inner temple of the enclosure it is asserted that Lono conversed with him
freely; and at his bidding the spirits of the living (kahaoka) as well as the shades
of the dead (unihipili) made their appearance; for it was believed by the ancient
Hawaiians that the spirits or souls of the living sometimes separated themselves
from the body during slumber or while in a condition of trance, and became
visible in distant places to priests of especial sanctity. [Kalākaua 1990:169-170]
2.1.2.4 Waiau
Kaluaolohe Plain
The following account describes a legendary dog that would warn travelers along the plain of
Kaluaolohe, in Waiau:
There was a pit where the hairless dog, seen in the olden days, lived. The name of
the dog was Ku-ilio-loa and he was hairless. He often met with those who went on
Archaeological Inventory Survey Plan, HHCTCP Construction Phase II, Waiawa, Mānana, Waimano, Waiau,
Waimalu, Kalauao, ‘Aiea, and Hālawa Ahupua‘a, ‘Ewa District, Island of O‘ahu
TMK[1] 9-7, 9-8, and 9-9 - Various Plats and Parcels
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