Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Kona Forest Unit
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Based on the historical documentation and archaeological investigations at similar elevations nearby,
it can be expected that the most likely cultural resources within the KFU would be associated with
the upper zone, ‘ama‘u, of the Kona Field System, a unique system of patterned networks of
elongated rectangles bounded by earth and rock ridges used by Native Hawaiians for farming that
extended from Kailua to the south of Honaunau. According to the idealized model of the Kona Field
System, approximately the lower third of the KFU is within the ‘ama‘u. Today, this region is covered
with forest, suggesting that it was not used for agriculture as intensively as were lower elevation
areas. However, the presence of invasive species might be an indication that portions of the zone
were cleared in earlier times.
It is worth noting that the idealized gradations for the zone of the Kona Field System are based on the
full 32 mi expression of the system along the Kona region. In the southern portion of that region,
where the KFU is located, the slopes of Mauna Loa are steeper, and consequently, the zones can be
expected to be compressed into narrower bands. Indeed, detailed studies involving the field system in
Ka‘ohe ahupua‘a demonstrate that the zones change more rapidly in this southern area, and that the
upper reaches of the field system are at lower elevations than the normalized model suggests.
Nevertheless, numerous agricultural features with associated temporary and even permanent
habitation sites are present at elevations as high as 1,850 ft above sea level in nearby ahupua‘a. Those
studies did not investigate elevations higher than that, so it is not known whether evidence of
traditional Hawaiian agriculture extends to higher elevations. Based on the density and distribution of
the agricultural features, it seems likely that the upper boundary of the system was not found and that
the features do continue to some unknown higher elevation.
Caves have been identified in the KFU and more can be expected to be present. The inspection of
four caves was focused on biological resources, so although no traditional cultural resources were
reported other than observations of charcoal, it cannot be assumed that cultural resources do not
exist. On the contrary, Boundary Commission testimony and archaeological investigations at similar
elevations in the region indicate that caves were used for traditional activities.
People moved through the higher elevations to procure bird feathers and canoe wood. Camps for
these kinds of activities may be present within the KFU. The known and named water holes in these
higher elevations were likely valuable resources exploited for many centuries.
Although habitation was traditionally concentrated along the shoreline, historical references and
archaeological work indicates that temporary shelters associated with agricultural pursuits were
present throughout the Kona Field System. Temporary habitations of this kind may be present in the
lower elevations of the KFU. Although rare, and not fully understood archaeologically or
historically, a kind of habitation used by ali‘i to sequester royal youth could also be present in the
lower portions of the KFU.
The village along the shoreline of Kalāhiki was an important place during traditional times and into
the 1800s. Legends pertaining to this area emphasize the royal associations, and heiau in the uplands
reflect the vitality of the sociopolitical activity throughout the lands here.
Based on the few cultural studies of the KFU, the most likely traditional Hawaiian cultural activities
near the Unit were hunting birds for feathers, tree felling for canoes, and gathering of edible and
Chapter 5. Social and Economic Environment 5-19