Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 4, 1 April 1988 — Heiau Gets Two Hanai 'Parents' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Heiau Gets Two Hanai 'Parents'

By Deborah Lee Ward, Assitant Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA It's not every day that an almost forgotten Hawaiian heiau gets "adopted" by not just one, but two "parents" — a businesswomen's club and a gravel quarrying company.

Pahukini Heiau is being cared for by two eocurators, Ameron HC&D and the Lani-Kailua Business and Professional Women's Club, under an agreement with the City and County of Honolulu. It is an example of a growing awareness of Hawaii's remaining archaeological sites by civicminded groups and businesses who are willing to get involved as caretakers. What motivated Ameron HC&D, a quarrying firm whose business is manufacturing crushed

gravel and stone products, to take on long-term responsibility for an ancient Hawaiian site? According to Kapaa quarry plant manager George Nuuanu West, "Ameron, under our president Tom Bastis, noticed the community day cleanups of Pahukini and heard about the need for a Pahukini Heiau curator. We were interested and thought it was very appropriate for us because we've been operating in this valley at Kapaa since 1952. We're here every day, physically close and in a position to support the maintenance very easily with the equipment and the manpower."

Adds West, "I'm glad the company is participating in this in a wholehearted fashion. It's a good project for the company and a fun way to heeome involved with the culture." West notes that the predominantly Hawaiian employees are also interested in the project, after overcoming some initial eoneem about going in and out of the heiau.

Since the eleanup, Ameron has been cutting the grass and keeping down the weeds, and cleaning the fence around the heiau of windblown trash from the adjacent dump. The company also put in a lot of work to prepare for the restoration ceremony: creating in front of the heiau a level terrace covered with crushed gravel for a seating platform; mounting and placing a commemorative plaque on a large boulder at the entrance to the heiau. Last, but not least, Ameron employees hosted a festive pa'ina after the restoration ceremony at their quarry lunchroom. They cooked and prepared the food, including the kalua pua'a in the backyard imu.

Ameron HC&D formerly operated out of the lower Manoa site sometimes known as the University of Hawaii "quarry." In 1952 the company moved to Kapaa, next to Pahukini Heiau. Its quarry site there was taken over by the City for the Kapaa landfill and operations moved further up the valley in 1965. West has been with Ameron HC&D since 1969 and in the quarryfor 10years. He was promoted to plant production manager at Kapaa in 1980. He grew up in Kapahulu, son of deceased Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter George West. He is a 1962 graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and attended Oregon State University in Corvallis. His

wife, the former Nowena Correa, Kamehameha class of 1963, has her own halau whieh meets at St. Andrew's Priory. They have three children, Lisa, a UH student; Christian, a student at Academy of the Pacific; and Nicklaus, age 6.

George Nuuanu West

The Rev. Abraham Akaka unties maile lei held by George West in ho'okupu ceremonies at a large boulder to the heiau's entrance. A eommemorative plaque is on boulder.

Lehua Pate dances and Rita Moon at right chants. They are members of Aunty Elaine Kaopuiki's Na Hula O La'i Ke Aloha from Lanai.