Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 11, 1 November 2003 — Stewardship, kuleana guiding values in everyday lives [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Stewardship, kuleana guiding values in everyday lives

E malama i ka iki kanaka, i ka nu'a kanaka. 'O kakou no keia ho'akua. Take care ofthe insignificant and the great man. That is the duty of us gods.

By Claire Hughes Dr.PH., R.D. Stewardship, a key Hawaiian value, means taking care of all things — our 'ohana, our community, as well as our environment. The 'ōlelo of the title tells us that we are expected to provide this care because of our direct connection to the gods. Respect and responsibility for the land, aloha 'āina, begins with knowing about an area and its history. Mueh knowledge about cultural sites has been lost. With their history forgotten, these sites heeome neglected. An example is Pu'u Pueo heiau in Mānoa. Huge banyan trees have been allowed to grow up between the rocks on the front face of the heiau and the roots will soon destroy the last remnants of the ancient structure. Other sites have been obliterated and forgotten, due to construction of highways, homes, hotels, and businesses. The area called Kamō'ili'ili by early Hawaiians — known as Mō'ili'ili today — was protected by the giant mo'o, Kamō'ili'ili. It was rich with cultural sites. One site was Kumulae spring with its healing properties. The pond formed around the spring was a source of clear fresh water in the arid plain of Kamō'ili'ili. The stream that flowed from the pool teemed with edible fish. Years ago, during the building of a home on the site of Kumalae spring, stone medicine bowls and implements used to prepare lū'au were found, providing evidence of healing performed in earlier times. The specific area of the pond that healers used to immerse their patients in the healing water was obvious. Kumalae spring was a favorite bathing plaee for a beautiful princess. Men were forbidden to gaze upon her. The princess had many protectors, who were also beautiful women and who shielded the princess from being viewed by

men. The princess loved to bathe in the spring, and she would frequently go to the pond at night with her guardians. While she bathed, her retinue would chant songs of love to the accompaniment of gourd

implements. Among the artifacts found at the site were hand-carved ki'i. One of these wooden carvings, the new owner believed, was the likeness of the princess herself. Even though I have eaten at the restaurant that now occupies the site, I had never heard this mo'olelo. Today, the pool

is filled with large koi, and the mo'olelo is no longer told. Kānewai was a large underground pool in the present quarry area of the University of Hawai'i. Known as healing waters of Kāne, the water was highly prized for its therapeutic powers. Early Hawaiians believed there was a connection between this pool and the oeean. Stories talk of fish swimming upstream, mauka from the oeean. When the fish saw fishermen preparing to go fishing, they would swim to alert the other fish in the oeean. Another mo'olelo is set shortly after the arrival on O'ahu of Hi'iaka and Wahine'ōma'o, as they were taking Lohi'au to Pele on the island of Hawai'i. They left their eanoe at Waikīkī and walked mauka. A heavy gust of wind blew, and Wahine'ōma'o and Lohi'au felt their ears being pulled by hands they could not see. They asked Hi'iaka for help, who realized that this was the handiwork of Kamōi'li'ili, the giant mo'o. Hi'iaka told Wahine'ōma'o and Lohi'au to follow behind her as they continued to move forward. Soon, they were met by Kamō'ili'ili, who was poised to fight. Hi'iaka removed her outer skirt, whieh held forks of lightning, and delivered a lethal blow that cut Kamō'ili'ili's body into pieces. These pieces were transformed into a low hill across from Kūhiō School. The former body of this lizard god is now covered with business and residential buildings, and the H-1 freeway runs through it. Restoration of cultural sites is not a reasonable expectation. Keeping our cultural mo'olelo alive and honoring them within the Hawaiian community is more than a reasonable hope; we should make it a goal. Sites that need to be cleared and given regular care are wonderful service projects for organized groups of Hawaiian adults and youth. ■

Mn'ni fi o ^mssms^m A n n

Kūhiō Elementary students Faafetai Lueio, Data Sananap and Luke Lueio play on a sculpture representing the mo'o Kamō'ili'ili. According to legend, the giant mo'o was slain by the goddess Hi'iaka near the site where the school now stands.

XI zr o o z » Q ' O I tr> I o E o- | ® , Q L D