(Water): In Hawaiian Culture on the Island - Lanai Culture ...

Wai (<strong>Water</strong>):
<strong>In</strong> <strong>Hawaiian</strong> <strong>Culture</strong>
on the Island of Lāna‘i
<strong>In</strong> the ancient religious system,
water was a body form and
manifestation of the god g Kāne.
Many mele (chants)
commemorate this. One such
mele offers the following lines:
…He u-i, he nīnau,
E u-i aku ana au iā ‘oe,
Ai Aia i hea h k ka wai i a Kā Kāne…? ?
Aia i ke kuahiwi, i ke kualono,
I ke awawa, i ke kahawai;
Aia ilaila ka Wai a Kāne Kāne…
(Prepared by Kepā Maly – Lāna‘i <strong>Culture</strong> & Heritage
Center. April 2009.)

<strong>Water</strong>, Land , Gods and
the t e<strong>Hawaiian</strong> a a a Family a ySyste System
‘Ohana is family, relative, kin.
The word comes from the
<strong>Hawaiian</strong> ‘ohā, which
describes the offspring of
kalo (taro). The ‘ohā grow
and are nurtured by the
mākua (parent). The mākua is
the head of the stalk. The ohā
are the keiki keiki, the offspring, offspring and from
them proceed the generations.
The <strong>Hawaiian</strong> word for water is “wai wai. ” The <strong>Hawaiian</strong> word for wealth is
“waiwai,” wai said twice. When you have wai you have life, the wealth
to sustain yourself upon the land. <strong>Water</strong> itself, was believed to be the
body y form of the g god, , Kāne i ka wai ola ( (Kāne, ,ggiver
of the waters of
life).

The general <strong>Hawaiian</strong> word for
a spring of water is pūnāwai.
Pūnāwai or pu‘una-wai
describes a place where
water bubbles up from the
ground d ( (rising i i lik like a hill or a
mound), it is the source of
water.
The <strong>Hawaiian</strong> word “kupuna,”
may be translated as — “ku”
(standing at) “puna” puna (the
source of water). Ku-puna are
those who stand at the source
of water. Now this has deeper p
meaning than standing at the
water source. When duplicated,
the <strong>Hawaiian</strong> word wai, is
waiwai, and it means wealth.
Thus, the one who stands at the puna, stands at the source of wealth.

<strong>In</strong> this case, the wealth isn’t in material things, it is that our elders are
those t ose who o stand sta d at atthe t e source sou ce of o knowledge–the o edge t e well-spring e sp g gained ga ed by
the years of their life, and from that which has been handed down to
them from their own kupuna, and they in turn, pass their waiwai on to
their ‘ohā, keiki, mo‘opuna, mo‘opuna kuakāhi, kualua, and on down
the generations, from piko (umbilical cord) to piko… (pers. comm. M.K.
Pukui).

<strong>Water</strong> Resources Documented in the Place Names of Lāna‘i

We find in the ethnographic record, at least 45 place names which
document the occurrence of, and access to fresh water on Lāna‘i. These
place l names h have b been compiled il d f from ttraditional diti l <strong>Hawaiian</strong> H ii accounts, t
land records, kingdom and territorial survey records, and eyewitness
testimonies of historic period residents and visitors. While 45 localities
extending from shore to mountain, mountain and across the island are covered, covered
the following list cannot be a complete one, as there are large gaps in
both traditional and historic knowledge of the resources.
Place Names of Lāna‘i:
Ha‘alele Pa‘akai
Summit and water hole on Lāna‘ihale. Pāwili Ahupua‘a.
Hauola
Valley seasonally watered by freshets, and noted for its live-giving dew
fall. Kalulu Ahupua‘a.
H ū
Honopū
Valley and coastal settlement – “Kuu hoa i ka wai huna ke kupua o
Honopu.” Ka‘ā Ahupua‘a.

Honowai
FFresh h water t cove. Paoma‘i P ‘i Ahupua‘a. Ah ‘
Huawai
<strong>Water</strong> container – bay and coastal settlement watered by a spring spring.
Keālia Aupuni Ahupua‘a.
Iliolono
Named for a Lono class of heiau, associated with agricultural practices
and prayers for rain. Kalulu Ahupua‘a.
Ka‘auwa‘ieli
A dug out water channel for diverting water to pond fields. Ka‘ōhai
Ahupua‘a.
Kahalepalaoa
Coastal village with spring – “Aloha ka wai o Kahalepalaoa.” Pāwili
Ah Ahupua‘a.
‘

Kahōkūnui
Coastal Coasta village age and a d site s te of o a spring/well. sp g/ e Mahana a a a Ahupua‘a. upua a
Kaiholena
Valley along Kalulu-Kamoku boundary, with water hole – “Kaiholena,
he wai ia, oia ka wai e inu ai mai Palawai mai, Kealii a me Pulehuloa,
Kihamanienie, Kiekie, Nininiwai, a oia ko lakou wai auau, a hoohainu
lio.” Kamoku & Kalulu Ahupua‘a.
Kāka‘alani
A place situated along the boundary of Mahana and Paoma‘i, having
been identified as the “crest of the watershed watershed.” ” Paoma‘i Ahupua‘a. Ahupua‘a
Kalaehī
Shoreline spring spring, also called Kaho‘omano Kaho omano. Maunalei Ahupua‘a Ahupua a.
Kamākou
Upland p spring p g in Keālia Aupuni p Ahupua‘a. p

Kanaele
The boggy ggy area near the shore of Paoma‘i Ahupua‘a. p
Kanahau
Upland spring in Keālia Aupuni Ahupua‘a.
Kānepu‘u
Named for the god Kāne — giver of the waters of life and sunshine. An
upland cloud forest region, region associated with a noted dry land agricultural
complex. Ka‘ā Ahupua‘a.
Kapano
Valley and settlement with spring – “Kuu hoa i ka wai o Kapano.” Kalulu
Ahupua‘a.
Kaumālapa‘u
Village and well site. Kamoku Ahupua‘a.
Kehewai
<strong>Water</strong>ed gulch in Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.

Kolokolo
Cave from which fresh water was obtained. Kaunolū Ahupua‘a.
Lāna‘ihale
Pūnāwai Spring – boggy area of ca. two acres. Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.
Lōpā
Village watered by a spring – “Aloha ka wai huahuai o Lopa.” Ka‘ōhai
Ahupua‘a Ahupua a.
Luahiwa
Site of noted heiau ho ho‘oulu oulu ua – temple for rain. Keālia Kapu Ahupua‘a. Ahupua a.
Luawai o Pā‘ao
<strong>Water</strong> hole of Pā‘ao near shore of Kaunolu.
Keālia Kapu Ahupua‘a.
Mahana Pūnāwai
Spring of Mahana. Mahana Ahupua‘a.

Mānele (Kama‘o Ahupua‘a)
“Along the shore of Mānele, there
are places where fresh water
escapes p through g cracks in the
surface rock into the near shore
waters. The people of old, who
lived at Mānele knew of these
places, and to collect fresh water,
would dive into the ocean, carrying
an empty ipu (gourd container).
Once they were at the place where the fresh water escaped through the
rocks, they would tilt the ipu mouth over the spring source, to allow it to
fill up with the fresh water. This way, the native residents of Mānele had
access to drinking water year round, even when regular rains failed. This
practice was commemorated by the elders who expressed it as — “Maika‘i
Mānele i ka wai kaohi ipu” (Life at Mānele is good, for there is water
ffound, d which hi h was caught ght in i the th gourd).”
g d) ”

Maunalei
Once a permanent stream on Lāna‘i,
and valley in which lo‘i kalo – wet
land taro terraces were developed.
Noted for its water, “Aia ka wai la i
MMaunalei.” l i ” MMaunalei l i is i lit literally ll
translated as “mountain garland.”
Maunalei holds the distinction of f being
the only land on Lāna‘i in which a
stream flowed year round. Deep in the
upper valley and gorges, gorges dense forest
growth once captured rains from the
clouds (thus the name “mountain
garland” garland describing the cloud banks that nestled into the mountain
like a lei), and fed small streams that irrigated lo‘i kalo (taro pond
fields) well into the late 1800s. During the Māhele, native tenants
claimed more than 71 lo‘i kalo at Maunalei, , and the occurrence of
an ‘auwai (irrigation channel in which to convey stream water to
cultivated fields) was also documented.

Note: <strong>In</strong> addition to the 71 clearly numbered lo‘i kalo parcels listed in
Maunalei au a e by native at e tenants te a ts between bet ee 1848 8 8 to 1850, 850, other ot e Māhele ā ee
applicants also claimed lo‘i, but simply stated, “I have some...” or “I have
several...” lo‘i kalo, at such and such a place in Maunalei Ahupua‘a. Thus,
those numbers are not counted. It is likely that more than 100 lo‘i kalo
were tended in the valley in 1848.

Maunalei contains 3,342.38 acres, and is bounded on its west side by
Mahana Ahupua‘a Ahupua a, and by Kalulu on the east and south sides sides. Native
tenants lived upon and utilized most of the flat and gently sloping areas
of Maunalei, and several major villages could be found along the coast
where springs at one time supported habitation. Smaller settlements of
single and extended families occurred in the uplands, and several
ceremonial sites were located throughout the ahupua‘a. Kamehameha I
granted Maunalei to a foreigner,
John Young, out of gratitude for
service Young had provided him
during his quest to unify the
islands. <strong>In</strong> the settlement of
John Young’s estate, Maunalei
was given to his daughter,
Pane (Fanny) Kekelaokalani
Kekelaokalani.
<strong>In</strong> the Māhele, the title of
Maunalei was confirmed to Pane,
and her kapu p fish was he‘e
(octopus), the kapu tree was
kukui (Aleurites moluccana).

Pane Kekelaokalani bequeathed Maunalei to her daughter, Queen Emma
Kaleleonalani; her estate sold the ahupua‘a to Walter Murray Gibson in 1886.
Miki
An upland spring, noted in one of the earliest traditions of Lāna‘i, and
associated with the gods Kāne Kāne, Kanaloa and Kāne Kāne‘āpua āpua. “E E pii i ka wai i
uka o Miki, aia no ia wahi mauka o Lanai.” Kaunolū Ahupua‘a.
Nininiwai
Trickling/dripping water. Site of former upland agricultural complex.
Kamoku Ahupua‘a.
Pahulu Pūnāwai
Spring where Pahulu was killed by
Kaululā‘au. Ka‘ōhai Ahupua‘a.
Pālāwai
Named for fresh water moss which
grows in the “boggy” basin basin.
Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.

Pūlehuloa
SSpring i site it – “H “Hoomaha h aku k i kkahi hi wai i ono Pulehuloa.” P l h l ” KKalulu-Kamoku l l K k
Ahupua‘a.
Pūlo‘u Pūlo u
Upland spring in Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.
Waiapa‘a Waiapa a
Upland spring in gulch – “No ka wai o Waiapaa, wai ku moe i ku po, wai
kumu ohu i ka pali, wai aloha a ke kupa, ia wai aumeume, wai hooluhiluhi
kino, pii aku o ka pali nui...” Keālia Aupuni-Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.
Waiaho‘ola‘i
Coastal spring and village. Pāwili Ahupua‘a.
Waiaka‘ahu
Mountain spring in gulch. Keālia Kapu-Kaunolū Ahupua‘a.

Waiaka‘iole
Mountain spring in gulch. Keālia Aupuni-Pālāwai Ahupua‘a.
Waiakeakua
Mountain spring in gulch. Pālāwai-Ka‘ōhai Ahupua‘a.
Waiakapua‘a
A lowland spring along Wāhane Gulch. Maunalei Ahupua‘a.
Wai-alala
Mountain spring. Maunalei Ahupua‘a.
Waia‘ōpae (Wai‘ōpae)
Near shore spring and pond on boundary of Pālāwai and Pāwili Ahupua‘a.
Waikākulu
A storied spring and watered land of Maunalei – “O kekahi mea apiki o keia
wai, ina e hele ka wahine heekoko, o ka maloo iho la no ia o ua wai la, a
nele iho la na loi kalo, a me na kanaka i ka wai ole.” Maunalei Ahupua‘a.

Waikeke‘e
SSpring i i in lower l gulch l h bbetween t KKeālia āli Aupuni A i and d Pālā Pālāwai i Ah Ahupua‘a. ‘
Wailehua
Spring along coast of
Lāna‘i. Possibly Pālāwai-
Pāwili Ahupua‘a.
Wailoa
Spring and village site
Along g coast.
Ka‘ōhai Ahupua‘a.

Historical Accounts of <strong>Water</strong> and Life on Lāna‘i
August 6, 6 1853 (page 58)
The Polynesian
The Island of Lanai.
…There is a narrow belt of flat land on the shore made by the wash from the
mountains and sand from the sea mixed, and varying from a few rods to half a mile
in width extending round the east side of the island... This is a valuable part of the
island, being very rich, and well repaying cultivation with rich crops of melons,
sweet potatoes, squashes, &c… It is not however well watered… there being only
one permanent stream on the island, viz. that of the great valley of Maunalei, which
opens to the N.E., directly facing Kaluaaha on Molokai.
The land rises with an ascent more or less steep from this belt all around the island,
and is at first dry and rocky, with an abundance of thatching pili. A mile or two up it
becomes smoother, , and ppatches of brushes appear, pp , and vegetation g generally g yis
more luxuriant. Higher up small trees grow, and on the very top of the island, timber
is found for good-sized native houses. <strong>In</strong> general however, the trees bear a relation
in size to the island, and it is not uncommon to see groves of mamane with trunks
no thicker than your finger finger, and only 3 or 4 feet high. high
(continued)

On the east side the land rises uninterruptedly to the top of the mountain which
is high enough and damp enough to be agreeably cool cool. But on the west side the
ascent is interrupted for the whole length of the island by a remarkable plain 2
or 3 miles wide, about ½ of the way up, having its west side slightly elevated,
and having no visible outlet in any direction to the sea.
All this plain appears to be very rich, being covered with rank grass, weeds and
bushes, and would make first rate cane land, though nearly destitute of water.
The south end of this plain is warm warm, being under the lee of the high land to the
East, and sheltered from the trade winds, but the north part is somewhat bleak
and cold. Sweet potatoes are raised in all parts of this plain.
Towards the east side of this plain the land rises abruptly some 200 or 300 feet
and again spreads off in a table land much cut by ravines till it reaches the
mountains a mile or so distant. Thence the mountains rise abruptly in ridges
covered with small woods, with small streams in the gulches part of the year.
Few of these streams appear ever to emerge from the table land, except during
floods, when they run out into the plain and seem to sink into the earth. There is
cultivation also high up on the eastern slope of the island and houses also.
(continued)

The whole island as may be seen in
sailing around it, is cut up with ravines
much as the other islands are, with the
exception of the plain above mentioned.
The great ravine of Maunalei would take
high rank on any of the islands islands. <strong>Water</strong>
karo is raised in it, than which none is
sweeter.

October 24, 1861
The Pacific Commercial Advertiser
More About the Mormons.
(Letter from Capt. Walter M. Gibson, to Minister, R.C. Wyllie)
…I I will mention a few facts in relation to the branch on Lanai Lanai. …The The church has
been clubbing together a little means, and has hoped to buy a body of land from
the Government or from chief Haalelea. The latter agreed to sell them the
Palawai district for the moderate sum of $500, in order to befriend the poor
church. However this Palawai is mostly untillable lava, and consequently would
not be as advantageous as might at first be supposed from its extent.
Furthermore, there is not a single stream or spring in this district, and it is with
much difficulty that the people manage to get enough drinking water.
Sometimes they have brought water from Lahaina, and lugged it four miles from
the beach to their homes in Palawai valley. But with all these disadvantages,
th they have h been b particularly ti l l healthy… h lth …with ith a l large f force of f llabor, b I thi think k th that t
water could be brought profitably, to irrigate the valley, from a little stream near
the N.W. Extremity of the island—but I cannot be positive about the practicability
of the undertaking. g
(continued)

At any rare, some water for various
purposes, though not very good, can
be obtained by blasting out rock in the
mountains. The poor Mormons get
about six gallons of water from a few
hollows in rocks, which are dry during
the h day, d but b exude d this hi much h during d i
the night, and this is the chief
drinking supply for all this people. But
they yhave large g numbers of ggoats
and
use some milk and eat fresh goat’s
meat and mutton, with sweet
potatoes, instead of exclusive poi and
salt fish fish.
I design to submit a proposition to the
Government in relation to the
settlement of a large portion of His
Majesty’s Mormon subjects upon
Lanai, after certain tests have been
made for a supply of water water. It is my
intention to visit Lanai next week. I
have been there once before…

FFollowing ll i western contact and d the h iintroduction d i of f
herbivores, the cloud forest watershed of Lāna‘i
began to disappear. <strong>In</strong> 1870, J.M. Lydgate visited
Lāna‘i, , and described the mist shrouded forest
and summit of the mountain:
“At the very summit of the island (Lāna‘ihale),
which is generally shrouded in mist, mist we came
upon what Gibson called his lake—a little shallow
pond, about the size of a dining table. <strong>In</strong> the
driest times there was always water here, and
one of the regular summer duties of the Chinese
cook was to take a pack mule and a couple of
kegs and go up to the lake for water.”
Lāna‘ihale - Cloud Forest (1870)
Sitting, as it does, in the shadow of Maui,
Lāna‘i has always been stressed for want of
water. The rare and beautiful forest of
Lāna‘i was uniquely adapted to capturing
water t from f clouds l d which hi h passed d by b –thus th
the name, “Maunalei,” in one region of the
mountain lands.

<strong>In</strong> 1890, Fredrick Hayselden, husband of Talula Gibson, built the old, 400,000
gallon, rectangular reservoir at Kaiholena.
April 1899 (page 29), The Friend
Maunalei Plantation on Lanai.
This new plantation has been fully organized, with a capital of $1,000,000, and
a portion of its shares sold. They already command a considerable premium.
Manager Lowrie, of Spreckelsville, gives expert testimony that it will easily
make 10,000-ton plantation. It is located on the north-east coast of Lanai, and
has 1000 acres of the flats below fifty feet elevation, and 2000 more below 400
feet. The artesian water supply is copious. Soil excellent. One thousand acres
will be planted in cane the coming season, for the first crop, in 1901.
J June 30, 30 1899 1899, Nupepa N KKuokoa k
Holomua o Lanai (Lanai Progresses.)
Greetings to you, Editor:—I am here, looking at the work occurring on this land of
ours, , the cultivation of sugar g cane, , is being g done. The railroad and the wharf
warehouse work is moving forward. <strong>Water</strong>holes are dug, six have been made,
and the sugar cane is presently growing. Sixty or more acres are laid out with
planting slips, 200 acres have been cleared with the plows, and shall be
properly covered in the months between August to December December.
(continued)

The water of Maunalei and the
mountains is what is being
sought out. If it progresses well it
will be mixed with the brackish
water, to make good water for
growing the sugar cane.
There have been built 46 house,
f for the th laborers, l b f for supplies li and d
the livestock, and a store, coffee
house and hotel, and the houses
are all shingled. g There are also
wire fences. The suffering of the
people of Lanai is ended, here,
can be purchased all types of
things things.
(continued)

On Sunday, at 7 o‘clock, the journey set out for the mountains of Lanaihale, the
place where Kaululaau glued shut the eyes of the ghosts, leaving only Pahulu. At
11 o‘clock, we reached the mountain, and held a service and sermon, and when
finished there was an enjoyable luncheon; at 2 o‘clock, we turned and went
below to Palawai. Monday, we traveled about the land and to the places where
fresh water is dug for, arriving at Koele, the residence of Fredrick Hayselden and
Talula who welcomed us for lunch lunch…
G.W. Mahelona. Kahalepalaoa, Lanai. 25, June, 1899. [Maly, translator]
<strong>In</strong> 1899, Maunalei Sugar Company dug and installed Pump No. 1 at Keomoku
Village. Situated 800’ inland, across from the former Lāna‘ihale Church. Also,
twelve wells, 25 feet a part, 80 feet deep, and connected by a tunnel, were dug,
with a capacity to produce 3-million gallons a day day.
June 9, 1900, Maui News
Lanai Notes.
The second pump at the Maunalei Plantation was expected to start up on
Thursday. This is the 200 ft. pump. The one recently referred to in this paper was
the 50 ft. pump, which yields 6,000,000 gallons every 24 hours. The water is
exceedingly good and is as good now as when the pump started up several
weeks ago. Credit is due to the careful supervision of J.R. Castle, the
representative of Risdon Iron Works, and to W.D. Lowell, chief engineer…

1903 - Account of Former <strong>Water</strong> Flow and
Development p of <strong>Water</strong> at Maunalei
Lawrence Gay (1965)
...On our arrival, the Maunalei Stream had
receded to a point less than a mile from its
source, with an average flow of between
150,000 to about 200,000 gallons per day.
It is interesting to note that according to
the old-time residents, this stream had lots
of water which flowed into the ocean the
year round. It must have had a flow in
excess of 2 1/2 million gallons per day day.
During the era of destruction, the
vegetation along the face of the cliffs was
destroyed, rocks were loosened, and
cascaded into the taro patches below. <strong>In</strong>
time it became unsafe for anyone to
cultivate any of these once valuable
sources of food supply.

Before the turn of the nineteenth century, taro
growing in the valley had to be discontinued on
account t of f the th perils il from f falling f lli rocks. k
Shortly after our arrival, we spent approximately
two weeks in the valley yinstalling gwater ppumps, p ,
powered by gasoline engines and windmillsthree
windmills connected in series. One day as
the pipes were being connected and lowered
from the top of the 800 800-foot foot cliff cliff, the cable
snapped and about a few hundred feet of 2 1/2
inch pipes came roaring down into the valley.
The noise created by twisted pipes and falling
rocks was heard miles down the valley, the echo
waves bouncing back and forth down toward the
sea sea. There were moments of anxiety regarding
the safety of two men, who were standing near a
ledge below us. When the noise subsided, they
answered our call, that they were safe from
falling rocks. (page 29)

April 12, 1907, Nupepa Kuokoa
Gay is the Father of the Populace, Based on the Answers of the
Witnesses to the Committee
This past Monday, the Government Land Committee of the House of
RRepresentatives t ti returned t d from f their th i trip t i to t the th Island I l d of f Lanai, L i on the th Likelike. Lik lik
The committee went to take a look at the nature of the land, and elicit thoughts
from the natives, on conveying the government land of Lanai to Mr. Charles Gay, a
relative of Francis Gay yof Niihau. The committee spent p several day y on the island, ,
traveling about and learning its nature, and asking true natives who live there on
their beloved Lanai, about it.
There are several thousand acres of land on this island which are suited to
cultivation, and which without a doubt would provide benefit. But the one major
problem is a lack of water.
The water obtained by the people of this land, comes from the rain, which is used
to fill tanks, and from the stream of Maunalei, which is used to irrigate cultivated
lands. As a result of the lack of water on Lanai, the committee filled their bottles
and canteens with water from the tank of Gay Gay, who accompanied them on their
tour of the land. (continued)

At least half of the land which they traveled about on the Island of Lanai, can be
likened to places in Colorado or Montana Montana. <strong>In</strong> the gulches can be seen the
growth of guavas, and greenery. <strong>In</strong> these valleys, efforts were previously made
to dig wells, but the water obtained was brackish... [Maly, translator]
August 27, 1910, Maui News
Two Men to Look at Lanai Lanai.
Beet Sugar Experts to <strong>In</strong>vestigate Experiments on Busy Island.
John T. McCrosson, one of the prime movers in the Lanai Company, Limited,
which is developing the island into a cattle and sheep ranch, horse and mule
breeding section, and developing a great water system, is now in California,
visiting the Cone Ranch which may be the shipping point of a lot of pure bred
Hereford cattle, Merino rams and other stock, has notified the company that he
will be accompanied home by two beet sugar experts.
The experiments with the beet on Lanai have shown that there are vast
possibilities ibiliti in i beets, b t with ith a high hi h rate t of f saccharine h i ingredients.
i di t

<strong>In</strong> 1910, twelve wells were dug
with wind mill pumps installed,
eleven along the windward shore,
and d one at t Kaumālapa‘u. K āl ‘ Th The
windward pumps were situated at:
Kapoho, Naha, Kahemanō, Kahe‘a,
Keomoku Keomoku, Nahoko, Nahoko Hauola, Hauola
Maunalei, Kahue, Kanaele and
Awalua. <strong>Water</strong> was primarily used
to supply water lines for cattle
troughs, and in the Keomoku
vicinity to irrigate fields of
watermelons, , sweet ppotatoes
and
other dry land crops.

September 1910 – <strong>Water</strong> Once More Widespread on Lanai
Report of Ralph S. Hosmer,
SSuperintendent i t d t of f Forestry. F t
...The Forest on The Mountain.
It is self evident that the first need on Lanai is for water. Consequently q ywhatever
affects the sources of supply, even indirectly, is of great local importance. The
available water on Lanai is found mainly on the mountain, in permanent springs in
several of the larger gulches and in intermittent streams that run for varying times
after rains in others others. <strong>In</strong> former years when the forest cover was denser and came
farther down the slope, there is no questions but that more water could be
obtained than is to be had now. To increase the present supply it is clear that the
existing forest should be protected and its areas extended...
• <strong>In</strong> 1910, Lanai Ranch excavated a horizontal tunnel at a portal elevation of
11,103 103 feet, feet and 1,000 1 000 feet long, long which developed a capacity of providing ca. ca
250,000 gallons per day.
• Between 1911 to 1917, Lanai Ranch developed the three million gallon reservoir
behind Kō‘ele. The reservoir was supplied with water by a ditch and wooden
flume system fed by storm over flow out of Kaiholena.

ca. 1918 – Account of the Land on Lāna‘i Drying Out
Lawrence Gay (1965)
“Piha kanaka o Lanai nei ika wa kahiko.”
Lanai was full of people in the olden days.
“Noho na kanaka ina wahi a pauloa o keia aina.”
People lived in all parts of this island.
“Lako o lakou ina mea ai.”
They had lots of food.
“Ulu na mea ai ina wahi a pau o Lanai nei.”
Food crops grew in all parts of Lanai.
“Aole Aole moloo ka aina, e like me keia manawa.” manawa.
The land wasn’t dry as it is today.
“Kahe mau ka wai o na kahawai liilii e pili a‘e nei i ke kuahiwi.”
W<strong>Water</strong> t flowed fl d constantly t tl i in the th gulches l h that th t were close l to t the th mountain.
t i

“Kahe mau ka wai o Maunalei a
komo iloko o ke kai.”
The Maunalei stream flowed into
the sea at all times times.
“Make ka aina i ka hoomaumau ole
mai o ka ua.”
The land is dead, because of the long
intervals between rainfall.
“Moloo Moloo ka aina, make na ulu-laau ulu laau
o Lanai nei.”
The forest died from the dryness
of the land.
“Ano e no ho‘i keia manawa.”
Things are different now.

February 3, 1926, Maui News
Lanai is Shown to Honoluluans. <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Pineapple Company Runs Excursion to its
Property and Entertains Visitors Visitors.
Statistics Furnished:
• Island of Lanai, 140 square miles, 90,000 acres.
• Estimated pineapple land, 15,000 to 20,000 acres.
• December 5, 1922, population about 150; present population, 1000.
• Building of Lanai City commenced August 1923.
• <strong>Water</strong> supply lifted 750 feet by electric pump from tunnels in bottom
of Maunalei gulch.

�<strong>Water</strong> brought in six inch redwood pipe through three riders by three
tunnels, aggregating 5300 feet in length.
�Capacity of old Kaiholena reservoir, 500,000 gallons.
�Capacity �Capacity new Kaiholena reservoir reservoir, 33,900,00 900 00 gallons gallons…

James Munro (ms. 1958) described development of the Maunalei Pump
House, ouse, pipeline p pe e and a d tunnels tu e s in 1924: 9
...With the <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Dredging Company’s camp at Kaumalapau, two road
construction camps on the Kaumalapau Hill, and with the increasing population at
Lanai iCi City adding i to the normal ranch demands on pumping i and water distribution i i i
facilities, a rigid conservation of water was necessary. <strong>In</strong> a drastic effort to
conserve, the water supply to the kitchen sinks was restricted to an orifice about
3/32” / in diameter, , which was most effective for many y yyears.
The continuing development of the new water system during 1924 included
excavation of three pipeline tunnels between Maunalei gulch and Kaiholena,
bbuilding ilding the eexisting isting li living ing qquarters arters and ppump mp ho house se on the site of Ga Gay’s ’s ppump mp
station in Maunalei, installing a 6” x 10” vertical, triplex, single-acting pump (still
in service), laying a four-inch standard galvanized extra heavy pipeline from the
pump up the ridge to the portal of the first tunnel, and building a 2,300 volt power
line from the city into the pumping station in Maunalei. All material and
equipment required in Maunalei was hauled by truck from Lanai City to the edge of
the gulch and skidded down the zigzag trail by manpower.
(continued)

When these installations were
complete, the water-wheel-driven pump
was shut down and all hands on the
island spent one day carrying the water
soaked six-inch wood stave pipe up the
trail out of Maunalei for installation in
the tunnels between Maunalei and the
four 10,000-gallon redwood tanks above
the Kaiholena reservoir. There was great
urgency involved in this operation as the
reservoir was almost empty. The matter
came close to being one of shipping
personnel off the island or barging water
in in.
Finally the 3-1/2” by 8” VTSA pump from
the abandoned Pelton wheel station was
relocated at the new pump station. <strong>In</strong>
1931 a second 6” x 10” VTSA pump was
added, increasing the pumping capacity
to two 100-gallons 100 gallons a minute pumps and
one 50-gallons a minute pump, which
sufficed till around 1940... [pages 7-8]

October 30, 1929, Maui News
Salient Facts of Lanai Project Given Visitors
Lanai City consist of approximately 500 homes. All dwellings are supplied with
electricity. Public buildings include a hospital, club house, theater, church, and ten
stores stores, including two refrigerating and ice make plants and butcher shops. shops There is
also a branch of the Bishop First National Bank of Honolulu, and a County Court
House and Jail building.
The town is supplied with excellent water from two tunnels in Maunalei Gulch, and is
pumped to a height of 850 feet, then piped through 4,000 feet of tunnels to the
Lanai City reservoirs. There are three reservoirs and a number of redwood tanks in
which approximately 10,000,000 gallons of water can be stored. The minimum flow
of water in the Maunalei tunnel is 230,000 gallons daily and the maximum flow is
400,000 gallons daily.
Th The C Company maintains i t i it its own Fi Fire PProtection t ti System. S t The Th city it is i adequately d t l taken t k
care of in the event of fire by eight inch water mains located throughout the entire
city, with an available supply of 500 gallons of water per minute. At various points in
the city y there are automatic fire alarm boxes connected with the ppower
house
whistle which blows the block number showing the location of the fire, when the
alarm is given…

October 11, 1939, Maui News
Lanai Notes
“Wind-breaks are in the making there. Hundreds of cypress plants, under cultivation
in the nursery at Lanai City, will be transplanted on eroded areas of the island,
where they will eventually form dense barriers against the wind. The company’s
erosion control and reforestation campaign is playing its part in the transformation
of Lanai from a barren waste into a richly productive area.”

“Herds of wild goats and sheep which no longer exist, played a considerable part in
denuding much of the island in earlier days.
The Good Earth and Bad.
Sweeping winds, rains and unrestricted livestock grazing of the past, stripped
extensive areas on Lanai before the company acquired the island. Newly planted
wind-breaks are one means of by which it is sought to reclaim this denuded island. <strong>In</strong>
some sections broken up pineapple plants are strewn over the ground, forming
matting under which wild grasses can take root…
Many improvements were made by <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Pine in their Lanai holdings last year.
Among these were the completion of water development shaft No. 2 on Lanai, and
additional dditi l ffacilities iliti i in th the electric l t i generating ti plant. l t
Reforestation, soil erosion work and cattle feed development have also been
continued on Lanai.”

February 1948
Hawaii Farm and Home
<strong>Water</strong> Development on Lāna‘i (1947)
…Two new wells were drilled, adding
to the Lanai City water supply and
permitting irrigation over a small
portion of the pineapple plantation.
Experiments in rain-making, by
dropping dry ice from planes into
clouds, were conducted over the
island. Further research makes the
prospect hopeful of life-giving
moisture for the pineapple fields…
(N (Note: t experiments i t i in making ki rain i
from existing cloud cover continued
through the mid 1950s, but ended as
seeded clouds generally g y ppassed
the
island and rained out on the ocean.)

Fog-drip Catchment in 1956.
I <strong>In</strong> 1911, 1911 G George M Munro observed b d th that t the th
lone Norfolk Island Pine tree growing at
Kō‘ele—planted by Walter M. Gibson in
1875—generated g a significant g amount of
fog-drip when clouds/fog passed through
the boughs of the tree. Munro ordered
seeds for Norfolk Pines (received Cook
Island Pine seeds instead), instead) and by 1913 1913,
initiated a tree planting program on
Lāna‘ihale, and outer slopes of the island.
The seedlings, planted by ranch hands,
grew, and created an environment which
produced water, and allowed a wide range
of endemic <strong>Hawaiian</strong> plants to recover.
<strong>In</strong> 1956, <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Pineapple Company ran
catchment experiments, and found that in
a 24 hour period, one pine tree could
produce 240 gallons of water from fogdrip.

<strong>Water</strong> System Work on Lāna‘i
Ca. Ca 1950-1960 950 960

Wells and <strong>Water</strong> Shafts on Lāna‘i

Waiapa‘a Shaft 1960

Development of <strong>Water</strong> Resources led to
Evolution in Irrigation Methods on the Lāna‘i Plantation
...Recent estimates by Stearns and
Keith Anderson indicate the average
safe yield from the five wells and the
Maunalei supply at a total of 635
million gallons which roughly equals
the current average annual irrigation
field spray, and domestic demands...
[Munro, ms 1958, page 19]
Tanker trucks, 1926
Line-fed Boom sprayers, 1950

Documentary Sources
(in collection of the Lāna‘i <strong>Culture</strong> & Heritage Center)
• <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Land Records (1848-1878)
• <strong>Hawaiian</strong> & English Language Accounts
in Kingdom & Territory Newspapers (1850-1930s)
• “The Archaeology of Lanai”, K. Emory (1924)
• <strong>Water</strong> Manuscript of James Munro (1958)
• “True Stories of Lanai”, L.K. Gay (1965)
• <strong>Hawaiian</strong> Pineapple Co., Ltd. (Hapco) Publications (1947-1958)
• Photos and Cartographic Resources: Kingdom of Hawaii, Hapco/Castle
& Cooke Hawaii, K. Emory, Kumu Pono Associates, LLC (1832-2009)