Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 5, 1 May 2014 — The hidden treasure [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The hidden treasure

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

In the old days, a famous rock was located on the plain of Punahawele (Pu'unahawele). Back then, the plain was arid and uninhabitable due to the laek of streams or abundant rainfall. A storied rock,

Pōhaku-huna-palaoa (ivory-hiding-stone) was located along the old road going from 'Ewa to Waialua. The old road was inland, about a mile above any of the roads known to anyone who lives today. This is the legend of the stone. Paliuli eame to visit

O'ahu in a double eanoe that landed at Pu 'uloa. Paliuli was a woman of chiefly blood. Her journey brought her to Kalaekao and Hālawa, and from there she headed directly for Waiau and on toward Waialua. Paliuli walked over the 'Ewa plain, known as the land of silent fish (pearl oysters). She walked over the sands of Kuilima (Waikele) and arrived at Pu'unahawele (Punahawele), then she turned down toward Kīpapa stream. Paliuli walked along the plain of Punalu'u, turning to gaze at Maunauna point and the plain of Llhu'e. She walked along Kokoloea plain, coming upon a road filled with men and women. Among these handsome young people, were men and women noted for their beauty of those days. Paliuli was welcomed with kindness and graciousness, in a manner that was customary among hospitable natives. Paliuli passed Waiawa, the plain of Kallpahe'e and Kaluaaka'īlio (dog's pit), then she climbed an ineline to its crest. Paliuli continued

inland and eame upon a large stone. She stopped for a rest, sitting upon the stone. She noticed two holes in the stone. One was deep and went down into the stone, then it tumed upward and eame out on the other

side. These holes were several inches apart. As she rested, the thought of hiding her favorite palaoa neeklaee

eame to her ... before continuing on her journey. Paliuli removed the neeklaee and held it in her hands. "Yes, you have accompanied me all the way from Hawai'i, and I am thinking of hiding you. You were

handed down from my ancestors to my parent, then you eame to me. You shall go to one of my descendants. I am going to leave you here. One day, a descendant of mine shall seek and find you." Paliuli kissed her neeklaee, weeping with deep affection. This

would be the first time they were separated. The highly valued palaoa was worn only by chiefs. Paliuli allowed the neeklaee to slip into the stone. She covered the hole in the stone, sobbing eonvulsively at the realization that she was separating from her eompanion. It was well-hidden. Paliuli was alone. Suddenly, she heard a voice saying, "The woman is hiding the ivory neeklaee!" Paliuli turned, looked in the direction of the voice and scanned the area. She saw no one. The voice eame from the god Keakua'ōlelo, whose heiau was on the opposite side of Pānakauahi stream. "O woman from the land of the sunrise of Ha'eha'e; where it nestled over the pool of Waiaka'ea at Kumukahi, where the wind gourd of La'amaomao is. It is well-hid-den. None has seen it but me. When the time comes, I will tell your descendant where it is. Thankfully, this was a just god. Paliuli's greatgrandson of her grandchild eame from Hawai'i, and the god told him where the palaoa was hidden. ■

a MO'OLELO w N HISTORY r

Palaoa Photo: Kai Maikell