Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 2007 — Forbes Cave [ARTICLE]

Forbes Cave

As a longtime scholar of things Hawaiian, with perhaps unique knowledge of Honokoa Gulch and the caves in question, L. La'akea Suganuma's expose on Hui Mālama in the August issue of Ka Wai Ola has inspired me to confirm that he is fully correct. Also, the Mahi family has been misled by Edward Ayau's grandly fabricated story that their konohiki ancestor was buried in Forbes Cave.

I have read his testimony to the NAGPRA committee on this, and a transparent reason for his creating this story is so that he and others ean make claims to these astonishing artifacts from the cave's hidden chamber and "stack the deck" on what happens to tliis unique legacy of all Hawaiians. Ayau's stoiy, though romantic, is not the truth. In 1876, Mahi's widow, Kaneahiku, gave testimony, stating that her husband was buried "in the pali of Honokoa." That is the key. Forbes Cave is not in the pali of Honokoa - the pali is farther up the gulch. No Hawaiian of her time - or even an objective person today - would eall the location of Forbes Cave a pali, because it is in the lower part of the gulch where that side has tapered down. In fact, it is very near the gulch floor. Ayau has failed to tell the family this for his own reasons. I have seen one very secure cave in the actual pali of Honokoa, whieh is perhaps the true resting plaee of Konohiki Mahi. 8. Ka'imiloa Chrisman, M.D. Colfonwood, J\rizona