Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 September 2014 — Maui o Kama (Maui of Chief Kama-lalawalu) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Maui o Kama (Maui of Chief Kama-lalawalu)

/hikapalaumaewa and Kūlua are ancient names for Maui island. The island was renamed for Maui, child of Wākea and Papa, who performed magical deeds that mo'olelo (stories) have preserved. One mo'olelo tells how Maui slowed progression of the sun across Hawai'i's skies, to allow his mother's kapa cloth more time to dry. Other mo'olelo tell how Maui learned the secret of fire making, as well as his attempt to connect the islands of Kaua'i and O'ahu.

Maui island's ancient name Kūlua is attributed to the natural formation of Maui into districts around two dormant volcanos. Halemahina (house of the moon) and 'īao Valley is on the westem side and Haleakalā (house of the sun) is on the eastern side. Ancient lava flows between the two volcanoes eventually formed the isthmus, known as Central Maui today. Maui was known for its powerful ali'i, as well as for being the site of wars for power between several of Hawai'i's ali'i. Maui was strategically placed for ali'i who wanted to control the islands of Moloka'i, O'ahu and Kaua'i, as well as Lāna'i. Kahekili was the last of Maui's powerful chiefs. Maui boasts many scenic spots, such as both volcanoes. Among Maui's historic sites, on the Lahaina side, is Pu'u Keka'a (hill of the mmhle [thunder], or turning point). Pu'u Keka'a was formed

by lava flowing into the oeean. In ancient times, this pu'u was a lei-na-a-ka-'uhane (leaping-off spot of the spirit), similar to Mōkapu in Kāne'ohe on O'ahu. This is a point from whieh souls, after death, could leap into the spirit world. There are beautiful beaches on either side of Pu'u Keka'a. A heiau waslocated on

the hillside mauka of Pu'u Keka'a where a luxury hotel stands today. Nearby, on the Lahaina shoreline, lies a large boulder, Pōhaku o Hauola, whieh possesses supernatural forces to help kahuna heal ailing patients. Pōhaku o Hauola is shaped like a eoueh or heneh. Not far away is the site of a brick palaee that Kamehameha the Great built in the early 1800s for Queen Ka'ahumanu. Lahaina served as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820 to 1845 under King Kalani Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III. Mokuhinia, the royal fishpond, and its sacred Moku'ula island were important sites since antiquity. When Kihawahine, granddaughter of Maui's famous chief Pi'ilani, died, she was deified as the mo'o protector of the fishpond. It was said that the revered mo'o lived in Kalua a Kiha, a cave beneath Moku'ula in the fishpond. Under her protec-

tion, the pond, Mokuhinia, and Moku'ula remained sacred. In 1918, the County of Maui leveled the island, filled in the pond and converted the site into a county park. It is said that there has been some discussion about restoring this historic and sacred site. In 1793, Dr. Menzies, who traveled with Capt. Vancouver, described Lahaina. His description lives on in the 1972 book Native Pīanters in 01d Hawai'i: "we continued our journey, and soon entered the verge of the woods where we observed the rugged banks of a large rivulet that eame out of the chasm cultivated and watered with great neatness and industry. Even the shelving cliffs of rock were planted with esculent roots (kalo), banked in and watered by aqueducts from the rivulet with as mueh art as if their level had been taken by the most ingenious engineer. We could not indeed but admire the laudable ingenuity of these people in cultivating their soil with so mueh economy." ■

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

This pholo was laken at Keka'a at Kā'anapali, Maui, known as leina a ka 'uhane - the leaping plaee of the souls. It was said when a person dies, the spirit begins its journey at Keka'a. - Photo: Kapu Landgraf