We today see so much taking place in this new city of Kapolei, These are good things as we grow older. But there are things that we cannot forget or leave behind. Things that we must take with us. We all should have beautiful homes where we can raise our Ohana. We should have meaningful employment, jobs we enjoy doing. Most of us are no longer hunters, fishermen, farmers or gatherers. We do our hunting and fishing in stores, markets and businesses. This is our story today.

Let us however take a step back in time and see how life once was. When we were once hunters, fishermen, growers of kalo and uala and gatherers of bird feathers. A time when we were once warriors. The oral traditions to most cultural thinkers today are more than just stories. It is a history of people and places few of us know today. It was told and passed on in a manner that would help us remember. Such are the stories of Käne and Känaloa. They are not just gods but our Kupuna who traveled the seas and land. Käne of fresh water, “wai” and Känaloa of the seas “kai”. It is a voyaging story. A story of their travels from the islands of the southern latitudes to these jewels of the northern seas. It is a story of how Käne brought forth life to this land. It is a story of places and names. A story of water and people and the places where they lived and thrived. Such is the story of Känehili……….

H. David Tuggle and his wife Myra Tomonari-Tuggle of International Archaeological Institute, Inc. at the request of Belt Collins Hawaii in 1994 conducted an inventory of all cultural resources through mid-1994 of the entire Ewa Plain. It was an inventory of all previous archaeological surveys. It was done to satisfy the requirements of an Environmental Impact Statement part of the closure of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station and the cleanup and reuse of the former naval air station. This “Synthesis of Cultural Resource Studies was ultimately intended to serve as a cultural resource management plan.

Jan Becket photographing paved trail in Kanehili

No one knows the exact geographical area of Känehili however Dave Tuggle identifies the area once occupied by the Barbers Point Naval Air Station as Känehili. Its location and size was determined by the oral traditions. When one walks from Pu`uokapolei to Küalaka`i he would pass through Kaupe`a and Känehili before he reaches Küalaka`i. The oral traditions identify Känehili as the place where Käne brought forth water from the sinkholes with the strike of his ko`oko`o. It is also identified as the place where bird-catchers caught the O`o as they fed on the None fruit.

The oral traditions is an important source of information in an effort to understand our ancient past of Hawaii nei. They tell us a lot. The simple poetic references to places by name is an indication that our Kupuna lived there. If there were people there would be water a short distance away. One would find all the necessities of life; food, shelter and resources for clothing. There would also be places of leisure, for gathering and enjoying each others company.

In a song by Hi`iaka, Pele`s younger sister, to Lohiau and her companion Wahineoma`o, Hi`iaka says this:

Ku`u aikane I ke awa lau of Pu`uloa
Mai ke kula o Pe`e Kaua ke noho `oe
E noho kaua e kui, e lei I ka pua o ke kauno`a
I ka pua o ke akulikuli, o ka wiliwili
O ka ihona o Kaupe`e (Kaupe`a) I Kanehili,
Ua hili au, akahi no ka hili o ka la pomaika`i
Aohe moewa`a o ka po, e moe la nei
E lohiauipo, e Wahineoma`o
Ho`e `a mai ka wa`a I a`e aku au

This poetic reference, “O ka ihona o Kaupe`e (Kaupe`a) I Känehili” (The descent of Kaupe`a to Känehili) is an indication that Känehili is directly makai of Kaupe`a and Pu`uokapolei. This is consistent with Dave Tuggle`s reference that the entire geographical area of the former naval air station is the cultural landscape or Ili of Känehili

The following reference to Känehili appears in a Kanikau by Kekuapo`i to her deceased husband Kahahana, the last ruling Mo`i of the Mokupuni of O`ahu.

I walea wale i ke a Contented among the stones
I ka ulu kanu a Kahai Among the breadfruit planted by Kahai
Haina oe e ka O`o Thou vast spoken of by the O`o
E ka manu o Känehili By the bird of Känehili.
I kea ae la hoi kuu lani My chief also was seen
Iluna ka ohu Kanalio a ka manu e Above the dense Kanalio fog by the bird
Kela manu haule wale I kauwahi That bird dazed by smoke
I hapapa I loaa I ke kanaka Falling to the ground is caught by men
Honi I ka manu hunakai o kai The bird scents the sea spray
Aia ka I kai kuu lani There indeed by the sea is my chief,

It is easy to understand from this reference that Känehili is where bird catchers caught the O`o as the bird fed on the None tree of Känehili. It is also interesting in that the None can still be found today growing among the kiawe trees and weeds. It was the yellow feather of the O`o that the bird catchers sought to adorn the ahuula (feather capes) of the O`ahu chiefs.

Much of the place we know of as Kalaeloa today has been disturbed by military construction. However in every place where there were no disturbance, no military construction, no ground disturbing activities one would find signs of ancient Hawaiian culture. It is an indication that all of the former naval air station was a community of people. Along the shoreline were temporary habitation structures for fishermen. Just inland could be found many permanent habitation sites with trails and sinkholes that served as a water source and agriculture. Today in Kalaeloa one can easily find sinkholes with Ti leaves and None growing in them. So…..where is Känehili today. Signs of Känehili can be found in and amongst the kiawe and weeds along Coral Sea Road, It can be found in the area of the Barbers Point Stables. It can be found amongst coral rubble mauka of White Plains Beach. It can be found mauka of Tripoli. For although the “waters of Käne” have long since left the sinkholes of Känehili……….for although the O`o no longer feeds on the None fruit of Känehili………..for although much have changed in the last 500 years……….there still exist many signs of an ancient past amongst the weeds and kiawe of Känehili……..….

Structure built in Tahitian fashion at Kanehili

Why don`t we go back in time to the period of around 1500 A.D. The place is……. Känehili. The celebration ……….is the Makahiki. It is a time of peace and joyous celebration for Lono has come to Känehili on his annual trip around the island of O`ahu. We are all at the Päone at Känehili. It is a place today still hidden amongst the kiawe and weeds close to White Plains Beach. It is a large enclosure approximately 1 ½ acres entirely filled in with sand. The Nakoa from Palehua have come down from the waolani with gifts and makana of pua`a for Lono. The farmers of Kalo`i have brought kalo and mai`a (banana). The birdcatchers of Pukaua have brought feathers as Makana to show their loyalty to the Mo`i and Lono. The fishermen of Küalaka`i have brought i`a (fish), limu lipoa and lobster. Today there will games played to test the käne`s skills at Makaihe (spear throwing) and hakamoa (wrestling). Some käne and wähine will perform some hula while the games are being played. Food will be plentiful for everyone. There will be much awa drinking. When the games are over and the sun begins to set over Pu`uokapolei some of us will walk home along the paved trail back to Küalaka`i. Those from the uplands of Hanalei, Palehua, Puu Kuua and Keahumoa will stop for a while at Keoneai and Puainako and refresh ourselves before going further mauka. It has been a good day…..a day of thanksgiving and celebration for a bountiful harvest………

The sad reality of all the previous archaeological work done in Känehili (Barbers Point Naval Air Station) and all the Ewa Plain is they were merely done to satisfy requirements environmental impact statements and cultural assessments. The work was budgeted. Dave Tuggle’s “Synthesis of Cultural Resource Studies of the `Ewa Plain” which is the source of much of what I have shared with you was intended to ultimately serve as a “Cultural Resource Management Plan” with the closure of the former Naval Air Station at Barbers Point. It was intended to serve as a source of cultural resource information toward its preservation and future study. Perhaps Dave Tuggle`s last few pages of his “synthesis” best explains what is our responsibility today, what is our kuleana. What must we do as contemporary people of this new city of Kapolei. In short he says the work is not done. Much more needs to be done in terms of gathering data. More research needs to be done. Very little has been done in the excavation of sinkholes toward the study of extinct bird bones. These sinkholes are time capsules. If we do not have the resources or interest to further study and research the cultural landscape of Känehili……. Perhaps our job is to take care of these places. To protect them for future study and understanding……..If we do this ……perhaps future generation will thank us for our foresight……..mahalo ……ä me aloha no………….

Palehua Nakoa cleanup at the Paone at Kanehili