Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 September 2014 — Oral history project seeks descendants of Kalaupapa's original settlers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Oral history project seeks descendants of Kalaupapa's original settlers

By Cheryl Corbiell For more than a century, Kaluapapa has been known as the isolated peninsula on Moloka'i's north shore where over 8,000 Hansen's disease sufferers were sent to live. However, the peninsula had been home to Native Hawaiians for almost a millennium before the settlement was established. Remnants of rock walls, house platforms, heiau, taro lo'i, sweet potato terraces and other structures are evidence of long-term Native Hawaiian habitation. Davianna Pōmaika'i McGregor, Ph.D., professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa is working with the Kalaupapa

National Historical Park and interviewing descendants of the original Kalaupapa Native Hawaiians. "We know very little about the kama'āina who were on the peninsula prior to 1866, when the first 12 patients arrived and the settlement started," said Ka'ohulani McGuire, cultural anthropologist at Kalaupapa Nahonal Historical Park, or KNHP. McGregor said, "The displacement of the Native Hawaiian families on Kalaupapa cut cultural ties and associations of generations of people with the land. This project, Connecting People and Plaee at Kaīaupapa National Historical Park, is the first attempt to formally

connect oral history from lineal descendants with historical data of genealogies, archival research and information from 18th- and 19th-century Hawaiian language (newspapers) and other sources. We want to fill in the major knowledge gaps regarding the history, traditions, culture, mo'olelo and values of those Native Hawaiians who inhabited the Kalaupapa Peninsula

priorto 1866." Kalaupapa's Native Hawaiians farmed the land and fished the turbulent oeean while living within traditional ahupua'a (land divisions), whieh consisted of Kalawao, including Waikolu, on the east coast, Makanalua on the flat plain and Kalaupapa on the west coast. The Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy was passed in 1865, and the Hawaiian government began

the gradual process of purchasing lands from the Native Hawaiians at Kalawao. By 1895, the remaining residents of Makanalua and Kalaupapa were either relocated to lands on east Moloka'i or their land was purchased by the Provisional Gov-

ernment of Hawai'i, McGuire said. "Locating lineal Kalaupapa descendants to interview is ehallenging," said McGregor. "We've published a news release listing 125 Kalaupapa family names." In addition, McGregor is researching Hawaiian sources to find family leads. For example, she found names in a 1988 Moloka'i News story about a family reunion

for the descendants of . Andrew Kapalaau Poaha and Elizabeth Kapuoho I Poaha. ThePoahas'eight I children were born at Makanalua. In 1877, the government relocated I the family to 'Ualapu'e I in east Moloka'i. When Elizabeth died I in 1942, five children, 18 grandchildren and ! 36 great-grandchildren | survived her. This one [ news article provided McGregor a wealth

of clues to descendants. She is in the process of interviewing family members. Connecting People and Plaee at Kalaupapa Naūonal Historical Park will serve as a foundation to develop future consultation with the lineal ties to Kalaupapa and its land. The process starts with 'ohana asking about family ties

to Kalaupapa, and then contacting McGregor at (808) 956-7068 or davianna @ hawaii . edu . "We know it is a long shot but feel it is important research," said McGuire. ■ Cheryl Corbiell is an instructor at the University ofHawai'i Maui. Col-lege-Moloka'i. and coordinator for TeenACE andACEReadi.ng programs.

Descendant interviews lf you are a descendant of one of the families listed and are willing to be interviewed or have any questions about the project, contact Davianna Pōmaika'i McGregor at davianna@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-7068. Herearethe family names: Abigaila, Aki, Amalu, Apiki, Hanaipu, Hauhalale, Haula, Haule, Hikalani, Hina, I , Kaaea, Kaaikapu, Kaaua, Kaauwenui, Kae, Kaha, Kahaa, Kahakahaka, Kahakai, Kahanaipu, Kahaoa, Kahanaipu, Kahaua, Kahewanui, Kahiko, Kahue, Kaiheelua, Kailua, Kalahili, Kalama, Kalamahiai, Kaleo, Kalili, Kaloaaole, D. Kalua, Kaluaaku, Kaluoku, Kama, Kamaka, Kamakahiki, Kamakaukau, Kamakawaiwaiole, Kanakaokai, Kanakaole, Kanalu, Kane, Kanehemahema, Kaniho, Kanui, Kapika, Kapule, Kauenui, Kauhi, Kauku, Kaunuohua, Kaupea, Kauwenui, Kawaiahonu, Kawaiola, Kaweheana, Kawelo, Kaweloiki, Keahaloa, Keaholoa, Keala, Keawe, Keawepoole, Kekahuna, Kekinolau, Kekolohe, Keoki, Keomaia, Kepio, Keweheana, Kiha, Kihe, Koa, Koi, Koliola, Kuaao, Kuewaa, Kuheleloa, Kuhihewa, Kupainalua, Lai, Mahiole, Mahoe, Mai, Makaiwi, Makaulaau, Makeumi, Mali, Mauikoaole, Mihaai, William Luther Moehonua, Moeimua, Moihauna, Naai, Naale, Nakai, Nakapalau, Nakoa, Namokueha, Nanamokueha, Naone, Naope, Nawaliwali, Nunumea, Ohuaaiai, Paele, Pahua, Paolo, Pauaa, Piikoi, Pohaipule, Puailelewale, W.N. Pualewa, Pulihi, Puuone, Uhilau, Wahia, Wahinekapa, Waiolama.

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KALAUPAPA NAĪIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

A map of fhe peninsula shows the areas of Kalaupapa, Makanalua, Kalawao and Waikolu. - Courtesy: National Park Service

Hawaiians had lived on Makanalua Peninsula, commonly known as Kalaupapa, for centuries before a leprosy settlement was established there in 1 866. This 1 909 photo by John F.G. Stokes of Bishop Museum shows rock walls and remnants of a heiau, with the Kalaupapa settlement in the distance along the coast. At right, a more current photo shows rock walls along the eastern part of the peninsula, toward Kalawao. - Courtesy photos: Naiional Park Service