Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 9, 1 September 2003 — Mokuʻula restoration [ARTICLE]

Mokuʻula restoration

On Aug. 22, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa extended a $500,000 county grant to the Friends of Moku'ula, a nonprofit cultural organization involved in a major preservation effort and restoration plan for the now-buried Moku'ula royal complex. Today hidden beneath a county park and parking lot in Lahaina, Moku'ula was a major seat of power under Maui's exalted Pi'ilani chiefly line and was for a time the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai'i under Kamehameha III. In 1993, archaeologists from the Bishop Museum excavated the site and established that the area served as a residence and sacred sanctuary for high-ranking ali'i from the 14th to 19th centuries, making Moku'ula one of Hawai'i's most important archeological sites. Among the ali'i historically connected to this site are Kamehameha I's wife Keōpūolani, their son Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) and their daughter Nāhi'ena'ena. "Restoration of the site will include the creation of a Hawaiian Living Center, whieh will provide activities that include sustainable eeonomie development opportunities for Native Hawaiians," said Akoni Akana, FOM executive director. For additional information, eontact the Friends of Moku'ula at (808) 661-3659. see NEWSBRIEFS on page 14