Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 10, 1 October 1988 — Treasures [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Treasures

Makaku By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jenscn ©

There's a loeal song that goes, . .we are the simple folk." And, with this very presuggestive concept in mind, do you'ever wonder who our ancient professionals were and what they eontributed to our Kanaka society? Or, better yet. . .if we had professionals at all? Unfortunately, too mueh of the modern imagery concerning our people displays them as lounging, indolentand not too involved — and if involved, it's usually at some romantic mundane chore. Not that there is anything wrong with mundane chores, we are all obligated to do them. . .but to quote another song, . .is that all there is?"

All of us ean name, at least, a few creative people from the Western and Eastern civilizations. Can we do the same with ours? Do we even view our culture in that same light? We should! We didn't just have faceless warriors, fisherman, planters, eanoe makers and hula dancers. And being that ethnic arts and crafts are purely relegated to the status of folk art, usually a by-product of acontrolling government, it becomes difficult to see beyond that imposed visualization, let alone strive to evolve to a more sophisticated point of view. With

the limited education made available to us over the past 150 years, how ean we possibly understand that we ". . ,the simple folk" had anything else? Well, let me state it here and now, we did and do! Firstly, you must absorb the reality of where the kanaka maoli settled. Specks of rocks in a vast, endless oeean. Oh yes, breathtaking valleys, pristine countrysides, crystalline waters, intense eontrasts of colors that hurt the eyes. . .but outside a few natural resources, there really was precious little to create those visually monumental legacies

by whieh civilizations are measured. And, yet. . ,what they did do with that precious little was extraordinary. Unfortunately, time and man have not dealt fairly or kindly with our native wonders. If we but use our intellectual resources, we ean recall those accomplishments that recognize our contributions towards the world's evolution.

Now, let me see. . ,artisans under 16th century high chief Pi'ilani were responsible for the awesome complex called Pi'ilanihale in Hana, where the use of natural stone gives a new meaning to Frank Lloyd Wright's concept of eeological architecture. To Pi'ilani's son Kiha, we attribute the completion of the mighty Ala Loa, a paved highway that circled the island of Maui. On Hawai'i, the famed architect from Kaua'i, Kapoukahi, designed the temple of Pu'u Kohola. And on Maui, Kaleopu'upu'u, designed that of Kaluli. But who, under the patronage of 9th century Nanamaoko, created the mystical configuration of 0'ahu's Kukaniloko? And wasn't it again on O'ahu that chief Keanu cut a navigable ehannel through the ancient Pearl lochs?

What about Ku'ulakai, the great aquaculturist who influenced the building of fishponds and introduced innovative methods of harvesting the bounties of the oeean? Not to forget his son 'Ai'ai who kept his memory alive by perpetuating his knowledge, spreading the aquaculture system throughout the island ehain. Also, who cut the notches in the Pali? On a mueh smaller scale, who designed the graceful lei niho palaoa and the many abstract patterns displayed on our gorgeous capes? Of course, to Kanikania'ula is attributed the creation of the

very first feather eape to be made on Maui.She gave it as a wedding gift to her husband-to-be High Chief Kakalanileo. Another woman, Lu'ukia, is credited with the design of the five-ply pa'u and the intricate layout of kapa prints.

Did you ever wonder who designed the helmets? Who carved the thousands of statues? Who eultivated the 74 varieties of bananas? To Kalaiha'ohi'a we give the title of surveyor, for it was he who measured the island of Maui, cutting it into districts whose boundaries have lasted to this day. Of the hundreds of structures linked to the obscure and inconspicuous menehune we at least ean identify several outstanding works: the Alakoko Fishpond and "Menehune Ditch", correctly known as Kiki-a-Ola, designed and supervised by Pi, under the auspices of High Chief Ola. This marvel in engineering involved turning the course of the Waimea river and directing the flow of water around the corner of a mountain.

To Kapo and Laka we attribute the choreography of the dance. And to Ka'ehu from Kaua'i we attribute the composition of Hawai'i's haunting music. Yet who designed the many melodic and rhythmic instruments? Of the bards, there were many: Keaulumoku, composer of the poem "Hau-i-ka-lani". . .Ululani, Lunalilo, Palea, Malo and Kuluwaimaka just to name a few. The list goes on. . .we bemoan the fact that we, as a nation or tribe of people have lost mueh. . .but think. . ,we are still blessed with an abundance of information that merely awaits the probing mind of the "seeker." Go look, it's there! Mai ka po mai oia'i'o! Before time there was truth!