Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 7, 1 July 2012 — Festival at Puʻukoholā Heiau celebrates Establishment Day [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Festival at Puʻukoholā Heiau celebrates Establishment Day

By Karin Stanton Pu'ukoholā Heiau Nahonal Historic Site hosts the 40th annual Ho'oku'ikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, whieh allows visitors and residents to learn about the history of the island, as well as allowing Native Hawaiians an opportunity to connect with and celebrate their past. "The culture, history and language - it's so fascinating, and the fantastic thing is people are not going to let it fade away," said park ranger George Enuton. One of the festival centerpieces is a sham battle fought by young men in traditional warrior dress and with traditional war implements. The battle begins at 6:30, just after sunrise during opening ceremonies, as the men fight for control of a banana plant stump, whieh symbolizes the first fallen warrior. "It's not pre-determined whieh

chiefdom will win and it is a real battle," said Enuton. "They are hurling real spears at eaeh other. The spear tips are covered with tape but they still hurt, so they will be trying really hard not to get hit with a spear." Enuton, a native of Washington, D.C., who has worked at Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site for six years, said the festival is a personal highlight of the year. "It's quite an honor just for me to see every year," he said. The heiau on the Kohala Coast of Hawai'i Island played a significant role in the unification of the islands. In 1790, control by Kamehameha over his home island, Hawai'i, was elusive. Guided by a prophet, the chief built a heiau atop Pu'ukoholā and dedicated it to the war god Kuka'ilomoku. Stories handed down through the generations tell of the king and his men forming a human ehain and passing individual rocks along a

20-mile stretch from Pololū Valley to the heiau site. The heiau was completed in 1791, and Kamehameha invited his cousin and rival Keōua, the chief of Ka'ū, to meet with him. When Keōua eame ashore on Pelekane Beach, he was killed by Kamehameha's men and taken to the heiau as a first offering to the gods. Following Keōua's death, Kamehameha gained control of Hawai'i Island, setting the course for his eventual control of the neighboring islands. He established the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1810. Maintained by the National Park Service, the park features an interpretive trail leading from the visitor center to the ruins of the heiau, with descriptions and educational plaques along the path. Admission is free. ■

Karin Stanton, a former reporter/editor at West Hawai'i Today, works for the Associated Press and Hawai 'i 24/7.

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The annual Ho'oku'ikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival is a celebration of native customs and traditions, from food and clothing to art and warfare. - Courtesy: Kai Markell