Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 1, 1 January 1999 — He inoa no Kaniohale [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

He inoa no Kaniohale

HE HALE kanaka, ke 'alalā ala nō keiki, he hae ala nō ka 'īlio. The signs of hving about a home are the voices of humanity and animals." ('Ōlelo No'eau #562). Signs of life are coming to Kaniohale, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands component of the Villages at La'i'ōpua in Keahuolū and Kealakehe, North Kona. Kaniohale is named for an 'ili within the ahupua'a of Kealakehe. Kaniohale, home to a growing number, is the first Department of Hawaiian Home Lands project in Kona. The coastal activities of Keahuolū and Kealakehe have always been consistent with the richness of Kona's seas. Regardless of the weather or substrate conditions that affect the agricultural productivity of the land, the ocean's productivity is reflected in the activities and cultural sites along the shore, including residential areas, burials, named heiau, ala hele, ahu and platforms. Inland, the natural elements of these ahupua'a are conspicuous among what

we see and know. The ahupua'a of Keahuolū and Kealakehe are situated at the interface of the densely populated agricultural region of North Kona extending from Lanihau through Keauhou and the less populated lava lands of Kekaha. Essentially, this is a

zone ol transition trom the wetter region to the south and the drier northern landscape described as "wai 'ole." Land use traditions here were modest. William Ellis, a visitor to Kona in 1822, described Kailua and the environs as "cultivated to a considerable extent; small gardens were seen among the barren rocks on whieh the houses were built. Wherever soil could be found sufficient . . . and in many places seemed to be growing literally in the fragments of lava, collect-

ed in small heaps around their roots." Like the residents of old, those who live here today share space with the native dryland plants of the region. Kūmokuhāli'i ( Ku who spreads the

hāli'i of greenery across the island) shows his presence as the cloud forest of the wao lipo, of the higher, damper slopes, transform to the dryforest of the lower, drier slopes. Today we only know the remnants of the forests that onee were. Among the

dryforest plants is the | uhiuhi, a federally I registered endangered species. The few uhiuhi whieh remain in p the project have been I buffered from the I Kaniohle housing by 1 small preserves. Among the native plants whieh typically grow with the uhiuhi are 'a'ali'i, 'aiea, elama, 'ilima, maiapilo, māmane, naio, 'ohe kaima, waiahe'e I and wiliwili. All of | these species occur at or near Kaniohale and

are components of the cultural landscape. The natural resources of Hawai'i nei are synonymous with Hawai'i maoh lifestyle and practice. For example, the

value of these species includes the pleasing fragrance of the 'aiea; the uncarved block of elama placed upon the kuahu hula to represent Laka; the cherished lei made from the 'ilima; the waiahe'e posts, preferred by some for the eonstraction of 'anu'u; and the sections of wiliwili, valued for making eanoe 'ama. The signs of Pele are clearly upon the lavascape of the region and Kū is present in the greenery. The native greenery is an indicator of the health of the environment whieh we share with those who eame to the land before us. This environment may be compromised by alien plant species whieh compete with native species in a way formidable even to Ku. This environment may be mālama 'ia by the Hawai'i maoli who are coming to eall it home. Kaniohale is described in the Land Commission award testimonies as an 'ili located at Kealakehe and as cultivated by Nuole. This land was cultivated by his family from the time of his grandparents who Ūved during the life of Kamehameha. This elaim of one family has grown to encompass the aspirations of many. "'O kēia 'u'uku e nui ana. This smallness_will be big later." ('Ōlelo No'eau #2458) ■

[?]