Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2001 — Ola ka inoa (The name lives) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
Ola ka inoa (The name lives)
• By Claire Hughes Department of Health In Hawai'i, towns and districts often are identified by geographical characteristics or historical events, or they carry the names of mythical spirits and famous inhabitants. Unfortunately, not many speak Hawaiian and the meanings of these names are overlooked and unappreciated. For example, Waikīkī means spouting water, with wai meaning fresh water, stream or river. The fame of Waikīkī, therefore, is based on its fresh water, not the oeean and beach. In traditional times, the ma kai boundaries of the Mānoa-Makiki ahupua'a formed Waikīkī, whieh was then productive in kalo and other crops. According to Pūku'i and Elbert, Waikīkī was named for the water that would eventually be drained from the surrounding area to create the Ala Wai eanal. Many seaside locations have names that start with wai and are usually derived from a spring, stream or river in the area. The origin of the name Wai'anae is a fascinating story. In the not too
distant past, water ran freely from the rainy ma uka areas, forming streams that ran into the oeean on the Wai'anae coast. Mullet spawned and their young were born and grew in these streams. The full-grown mullets, 'anae, would swim down-
stream into the oeean, to begin their annual migratory journey around the island of O'ahu. These Iarge 'anae would swim down the leeward coast toward Lē'ahi (Diamond Head), around Hanauma Bay, past Kāne'ohe, along the Windward
coast and around Ka'ena, returning to spawn in the Wai'anae streams of their birth, there to begin the cycle again. Fishermen around the island were aware of this phenomenon and caught the 'anae to feed their 'ohana. Now, most of the water that filled the streams is diverted into irrigation systems. The streams are bone dry, bringing an end to a natural cycle, an end to an organic way of feeding one's family. 'Ualaka'a in Makiki is another example of the destruction modern times have visited upon the islands. 'Ualaka'a means rolling sweet potato. Under Kamehameha I, the hill, now known as Round Top, was eultivated in 'uala. When the 'uala
were harvested, they were rolled down the hill. A mo'olelo tells how a pesky rat bit into a stem of 'uala, freeing the sweet potato and causing it to roll down the hill. I learned that sweet potatoes grown on 'Ualaka'a, grew to a very large size, and rolling them downhill, simplified the harvesting and saved constant repair of baskets used to carry them down. The mo'olelo of Kauhi, the sleeping giant of Mānoa who rests atop Wa'ahila Ridge, illustrates many site names in tle valley. Kahalaopuna was a beautiful woman of Mānoa, who descended from great mana. Her grandfather was Aka'aka (laughter), a ridge in the back of Mānoa valley and her grandmother was Nalehuaaka'aka, the lehua blossoms growing on Mānoa ridge. Her parents were twin deities. Kahaukani, the hau tree wind, was her father and Kauakuahine, sister rain, was her mother. Her 'aumakua were the pueo elan who Iived on Pu'upueo in Mānoa. All of these are plaee names in Mānoa. This exceptional young woman married Kauhi from Kailua. Alas, theirs was a tragic story of love, jealousy and rage. Their love was defiled and, ultimately, Kauhi was turned to stone. He rests atop Wa'ahila ridge. These are but two examples of the misuse and destruction of our natural resources. The planned 130-ft. tall utility poles that are scheduled to be planted along Wa'ahila Ridge are another. We are told that the poles are necessary to provide power to our ever-growing population. Perhaps, other ways ean be found that are more respectful of our environment and do not mar and destroy forever the natural beauty of our island world. And, perhaps, Kauhi ean serve as silent guardian over Wa'ahila to prevent further irreparable damage. ■
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(~)l AKINO
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Long before Queen Kapi'olani Park was home to the Honolulu Zoo and the Waiklki Shell, ponds and waterways flowed through the landscape, resulting from spoutlng springs (wai kīkO. The Ala Wai Canal was built in 1920 to drain the area for deveiopment. Image: Guava Graphics.