Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 7, 1 July 2001 — Remember Pearl Harbor [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Remember Pearl Harbor

Pu'uloa was onee a haven for agriculture, aquaculture anel productivity

Pu'uloa and Waimomi were the ancient names for Pearl Harbor. The area was under the rule of the 'Ewa chiefs. Keaunui, son of Māweke, was head of this family of powerful chiefs, and was credited with cutting a navigable ehannel, making it wide and deep enough for canoes and larger vessels to pass through. Kailimanuia, queen of O'ahu, is said to have built the first three fish ponds in Pu'uloa: Kapa'akea in Waimalu; and the 'Ōpū and Pā'au'au ponds in Kalauao. Her son built two more fishponds in nearby Moanalua. Several of these ponds were very large. Queen Emma's Loko-wai-aho covered 32 acres and Loko Kūnānā was 25 acres. Sadly, by the early 1900s, most of the fishponds were gone. Loko-wai-aho, Loko Pōhaku, Wailolokai, Wailolowai, Loko Eo, Laulaunui, Kapamuku (or Pāmoku), Hanaloa and 'Oki'okilepe were all destroyed. Loko Ke'oki, Pāpiolua, Loko a Mano, Loko Muliwai, Kahakupōhaku, Loko 'Ōpū, Kūkona, Koko Luakahaole, Loko Weloko, Loko Pā'au'au, Loko Apala, Loko Kuhialoko, Loko Mo'o and Loko Kuhialoko were filled in. Many of these ancient fishponds became part of the Navy yard and wharfs, while others became warehouse and housing areas for military and civilians. Pearl Harbor's current name

comes from the abundant supply of pearls and mother-of-pearl shells found in the harbor prior to Captain Cook's arrival. Kānekua'ana, a royal lizard (mo'o) who lived in the lochs of 'Ewa, brought the pearl oyster to Hawai'i. According to the mo'olelo, this royal mo'o guarded all of, the district of 'Ewa. Kānekua'ana was worshiped and cared for by the

people of 'Ewa ^ and the „

oysters l'lourished. She was eood

to those who cared for her, but all in the area benefit- """•

ted. Until the mid-1800s, there was a bountiful supply of oysters and their beautiful pearls. At that time, an epidemic of small pox killed many area residents and the supply of oysters began to diminish. It is believed that the royaI mo'o became angry at the konohiki-imposed kapu

and seizure of the oyster catch from the women who had harvested them. The royal mo'o removed the oysters to Tahiti and other lands, leaving Pearl Harbor barren of this ehoiee seafood. West of the harbor were highly cultivated flat lands, with 'uala and kalo the major crops. The farming methods, the building of fishponds, lo'i and walled patches

for 'uala were highly

labor-

intensive and demanded great skill, whieh

— bears testimony to the industrious nature of our ancestors. Their high level of work performance and endurance were

remarkable. Introduction of cattle in the uplands above the harbor destroyed the ground cover and caused soil to be washed down into the shoal of the harbor, where onee there were many farms and fishponds. It is impossible to imagine what this

area looked like in ancient times, when it was a significant farming region. A panoramic view of the harbor today shows a highly developed and crowded waterway with large buildings, ships and machinery. Fishponds were constructed on all of the islands to raise fish for eating and restocking the oeean. Hawaiians mastered the science of growing fish in ponds and conserving them for future consumption, placing a high priority on maintaining a year-round supply for everyone. Animal rearing, as opposed to hunting, is recognized by anthropologists as an indicator of higher civilization, yet another sign of our highly developed culture of old. Unlike today, our ancestors preferred eating smaller fish. In fact, the large fish caught in Hawaiian waters today were shunned because they did not feed on limu, but were scavengers, feeding on whatever debris floated on the oeean surface. These days, the larger, deep-sea fish also store high levels of mercury in their tissues and pregnant women are warned against eating large amounts or frequently. The important point for modern Hawaiians who are seeking improved health is to know that 'V kaio and fish were raised on all islands. This clearly demonstrates the priority and preference for these foods in the diet of our ancestors. ■

Ol akino

By Claire K. Hughes Department ofHealth