Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1988 — Kauaians Air Archaeological, Development Concerns [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kauaians Air Archaeological, Development Concerns

Protecting Natural Resources Dominant īheme

By Deborah Lee Ward, Assistant Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Protection of Kauai's archaeological and natural resources in a time of increasing development was the dominant theme as Garden Island residents shared their concerns with Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees at the July 22 community meeting in Lihu'e.

Several residents told the board they were eoncemed about the future of archaeological resources in the Wailua River valley and coastal area. Hanalei resident LaFrance Kapaka Arboleda said that state plans for housing developments at Wailua may affect preservation of archaeological sites there. She said the areas being considered involve county land on the coast between the Aston Kaua'i Resort and the Wailua Golf Course, and additional land on the mauka side as well, next to the site of the Malae, or Makaukui heiau. In an unusual presentation that amazed and caught the imagination of the Trustees and crowd numbering about 70, retired Kaua'i architect/builder Francis X. Warther described his studies of heiau in the Wailua River area, a complex he believes was onee the center of Hawaiian civilization, and of extreme significance to Hawaiian history.

In a long, and at times esoteric presentation whieh was somewhat clarified by his crisplyrendered architectural drawings, Warther told the board that his studies of the Wailua River complex of heiau and archaeological sites indicate it may onee have been an important astronomical anel navigation center and "university" for Hawaiian ali'i. Warther began his own study this spring to discover the purpose and function of Malae heiau, the pnneipal and largest heiau in the Wailuacomplex. He said it is considered very ancient because there is no tradition of when it was built or by whom. Because of his professional background as an architect/builder, and his personal interest in ancient civilizations, their building sciences, and the study of ancient measures, Warther took the unusual research perspective of the architect in attempting to "uncover the mind and thought of the designer/astronomer."

He began by measuring the dimensions of Malae and studying their relative proportions, reasoning that "If we gain an insight into the mathematician's reasoning style, we will discover the basic harmony and proportions used." He believes he has discovered "fundamental harmonies and proportions with a series of number dimensions that revealed astronomical data of space and time."

Warther measured Malae in cubits, an ancient unit of length. To him, its dimensions at 216 cubits by 180 cubits (324 feet by 270 feet), its location at 22 degrees N. latitude, and alignment with the summer solstice reveal that the heiau was designed and built by an astronomer/mathemaheian who possessed the sophisticated knowledge achieved by outstanding early civilizations of mankind. Such knowledge included a level of precision in measurement that many modern-day scientists do not believe ancient peoples possessed, says Warther, despite evidence suggesting they did.

Malae ean be viewed, according to Warther, as a "cosmic data bank" whieh contains the fundamental data of the universe. Seeing evidence of "a good scientific mind," Warther asked himself whether the entire Wailua complex might have been planned, and began his search for evidence of a master design and single concept that could explain the scattered nature of the seven or so heiau. Warther's drawing of the ahupua'a suggests that the placement of the four Wailuacomplex heiau — Malae, Hikina-a-ka-la, Poliahu and Holoholoku; and the royal birthstones, bellstones, solstice stones and petroglyph stones — was actually a careful earthly reconstruction of the heavens

above during the time of the makahiki. He proposes that "the Wailua master design is the constellation plan of the heavens during November/December (Makahiki)" when the Milky Way was directly overhead and mirrored the Wailua River below. He further theorizes that the location of the Wailua heiau corresponds to constellations about the Milky Way at that time: the Malae, or Makaukui heiau corresponds to the Square of Pegasus; the Hikina-a-ka-la heiau reflects Onon, and its "belt" is a star sighting point from Poliahu heiau; Ala Kukui heiau is Gemini; Poliahu represents Cephus, center swing point for the rise and setting of all the great navigational stars on both eastern and westem horizons; the Pae Mahu o Wailua stone group at the mouth of the Wailua represents the Pleiades, and the birth stones and associated heiau Ka Lae A Manu represents the great star Capella in Auriga.

He adds, lo me it is a justihcation. lt is a wonderful plan concept for the great capitol of Hawai'i . . . We believethismayencourageothers to look around them in Polynesia and help to fill in and complete this line of investigation." Arboleda added that if Warther's findings prove true, the entire Wailua river valley should be declared a historic monument. While Warther is not an archaeologist, the Rev. Kaleo Patterson of the Kapaa First Hawaiian Church told the board the significance of Warther's research is to stimulate further scientific debate and interest in the origins of the Wailua complex of heiau.

The board also heard from Barbara Robeson and Bob Schleck of the Kaua'i HistoricaI Society who asked support for their efforts to prevent legislation that would allow changes to be made to resort leases on ceded lands after 20 years. Schleck said this could allow a resort to start out with low-key development, and add on higher density later. They and others also called for a comprehensive archaeological resource management plan for the island.

Drawing by architect Frank Warther portrays his vision of how Wailua River archaeological sites may have looked in ancient times. At left of Wailua river mouth is Hikina-a-ka-la heiau, and just iniand of it is the Malae heiau. Warther beiieves the valley was onee an astronomical center.

Malae heiau, as seen from the grounds of the Kaua'i Aston Hotel, is presently overgrown by a forest of java plum, and surrounded by sugarcane. The caretaker group, Na Kahu Hi-kina-a-ka-la would like to be able to take on the curatorship of this heiau and to clear away the vegetation.

Warther measures mauka wall of Malae heiau, whieh is over 31 feet thick.