Honu'apo Park Resource Management Plan

In 1976, two graduate students (Herbert Mann and Anne Bowen) undertook an archaeological survey
of Kāwā, located along the coast of Ka‘alāiki and Hīlea Nui ahupua‘a, for the purpose of attaining graduate
credit (Mann and Bowen 1976). Their survey extended from Highway 11 to the coast and was bordered to
the north by Hīlea Stream, and to the south by a property fence line within Ka‘alāiki Ahupua‘a. They reidentified
and mapped previous Bishop Museum sites (Emory 1961). Those sites in which they were unsure
of the exact site number received the nearest site number, followed by the letter “A”. They recorded three
house sites that were not previously identified in Bishop Museum records. There were seven house sites
that were identified as having Bishop Museum site numbers. Some of the house sites appeared to predate
the 1868 tsunami. There were also enclosures (animal or garden use), and planting holes (mākālua)
associated with the house sites. Although they did not go into detail about the burials in the area, they did
state that there were seven gravesites said to be of the Kinin Family. A number of petroglyphs were
recorded along the coast that represented birds, fish, and anthropomorphic figures, as well as pecked bait
cups. Large concentrations of traditional and transitional artifacts were located on the hill mauka of Hīlea
Stream. It appeared that this area may have once been settled, but was in disarray and badly disturbed,
presumably by the 1868 tsunami. The tsunami was said to have “destroyed the villages of Ninole, Kawaa
[sic] and Honuapo” (Hawaiian Gazette in Kelly 1980:41). As a result of their survey they did not identify
any sites that were exclusively Precontact in age. The last member of the original Kāwā resident families
was reported to be Mrs. Lydia Papalimu (Mann and Bowen 1976). She is said to have left the area in 1957.
Hīlea Nui and Hīlea Iki ahupua‘a
Hīlea is made up of two ahupua‘a, Hīlea Nui and Hīlea Iki. Hīlea literally translates as “careless” (Pukui et
al. 1974:45). The northern portion of the area known as Kāwā is in Hīlea Nui. The Hīlea Stream empties
into Kāwā Bay. Like Ka‘alāiki, Hīlea was known for its surf break (I‘i 1963:134). Legendary references to
the ahupua‘a of Hīlea are scarce and have only been found in conjunction with the Heiau of Kohāikalani.
John Stokes recorded Kohāikalani Heiau and Ke‘ekū Heiau, in Hīlea Nui around 1906:
Ke‘ekū Heiau
Heiau of Ke‘ekū, land of Hīlea 1, Ka‘ū. Located on the point at the northeast side of
Kawa [sic] Bay…
This is very heavy-walled enclosure with several platforms. It is bounded on the land
side with a light wall. The sea cliff at the point is about 30 feet high, yet the southwest
wall of the heiau has been almost entirely destroyed by the sea… (Stokes and Dye
1991:128).
Kohāikalani Heiau
Heiau of Kohāikalani, Land of Hīlea 1, Ka‘ū. Located on the southern brow of
Makanau plateau…
This is an enclosure with walls from 4.5 to 5.5 feet high inside and averaging 6.5 feet
high on the outside. All the interior fittings are gone, having been lost to cane growing…
It was a heiau for human sacrifices (Stokes and Dye 1991:130).
During construction of the Kohāikalani Heiau it was said that an oppressive chief pushed his people
too hard and that they, with the help of priests, revolted and killed him at the end of construction. John
Stokes retold a French translation of the story in his description of the heiau:
Kohaokalani was, according to tradition, the most important chief on the island and
reigned in royal state at Hīlea. He it was who built the heiau situated on the great plain of
Makanau. The sea-worn pebbles may still be seen which Kohaokalani and his people
carried up onto the height, about two leagues from the slope. These pebbles were
intended for the interior pavement of the temple…(Remy in Stokes and Dye 1991:130).
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