Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 7, 1 July 1985 — New Hawaii Kai Heiau Site Visited [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New Hawaii Kai Heiau Site Visited

By Maleolm Naea Chun Cultural Specialist A recent visit to the now restored Pahua Heiau in Hawaii Kai led office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses Keale, State Archaeologist Earl (Buddy) Neller and this writer to another heiau site a few miles down the road. The walls of the heiau, some unrecorded petroglyphs, the house site of a Chinese farmer and a possible burial site were all clearly visible. The petroglyphs, however, were rather shallow and some figures were not easily discernible. In contrast to the Pahua site, it would take a greater effort to clear this area because it is heavily covered by tall grass and trees. Yet it is an area of great educational and historic value for the people of this state. The February, 1985, issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA reported on the initial stages of work to restore Pahua heiau. The final touches of this community project were completed in May and a restoration ceremony was held to mark the occasion. The newly constructed walls of the heiau are impressive and were built from the remaining rocks at the site. It should be noted that mueh of the heavy construction work was done by pa'ahao volunteers with the surrounding landscaping done by community groups. There is an access ramp and a small stairway leading to a flat surface just below the first tier wall of the heiau. This area should be a niee oasis among the kiawe trees and tall grass of Hawaii Kai. There are, however, some important considerations. Who will maintain the area and who will eontinue restoration of other nearby sites? Can this site be developed into a truly historical park like others on Oahu? Keaiwa heiau at the top of Aiea comes to mind. It is maintained by the State. If Pahua and other remain ing sites in Hawaii Kai ean be restored, protected and maintained in similar fashion, they ean become a valuable asset to the area, especially in telling a story of life preceding Henry J. Kaiser, Hawaii Kai and urbanization.

Such a concept ean be a reality as the restoration of Pahua demonstrates. The valuable story learned from this project for many people in the State today is that community groups ; ean get involved to preserve and protect ancient sites. It is this type of modern legacy whieh one hopes will catch on throughout the islands.

T rustee Moses K. Keale Sr. of Kauai and Niihau looks at an abandoned well on the new heiau site.