The center of this entire region, as stated by our ancestors in statements that they made to Sam Manaiaokalani Kamakau in the 1800s, was that the largest heiau and the most sacred place in this entire region was Puuokapolei, from which our city gets its name.

Click maps for larger view.

In defining the land area of Honouliuli we can start at the mouth or entrance of Pearl Harbor and travel along the coastline past Keoneula, Kalaeloa and Ko Olina all the way to Pili ‘O Kahi. Then follow the ridge of the Waianae Mountains up past Palehua, Mauna Kapu, Pohakea all the way to Pu’u Hapapa adjacent to Schofield Barracks. Then follow a line east beyond Kunia Road and then return to Kunia Road at a point where the Oahu Country Club is located. Follow Kunia Road past Village Park and Waipahu to a point at the top of Kaihuopala’ai or West Loch. Then continue your line bisecting West Loch to the start at the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Honouliuli is also the name of the flood plain in the area of West Loch Golf Course.

Honouliuli is one of 13 ahupua’a or traditional land divisions of the Moku of ‘Ewa.

While exploring the wilds of Kapolei on his horse, Shad Kane visits the remnants of a rich cultural history. After years of studying and learning from kupuna familiar with the area, he is currently writing a series of essays for myAdvertiser that share the ancient significance of O’ahu’s fastest-growing community.

Read about Kane’s own journey to find his roots, and how he came to be “driven to save and restore a Hawaiian cultural history that is at risk of being lost.”

He believes that “it is important that future generations come to know the true story of these islands that we have all come to love and call home.”

In this blog, Kane shares legends, pictures of old stones and paths, and the ancient significance of Kapolei, O’ahu’s second city.

`OLI KAHEA KÜPUNA
A Call to the Ancestors
English Words by Shad Kane
Hawaiian Translation by Kumu John Ka`imikaua

Mai ka moku `O `Ewa mai au I mua `oukou.
I come to you from the Moku of `Ewa.

Mai ka Ahupua`a `O Honouliuli.
From the Ahupua`a of Honouliuli.

Mai ke kula `O Kaupe`a, `O Känehili, `O Pükaua, `O Keonia`e me Pü`äinako.
From the lowlands of Kaupe`a, Känehili, Pükaua, Keonia`e, Pü`äinako.

Mai ke one kahakai `O Ko`olina, `O Küalaka`i, `O Kalaeloa, `O Keoneula, `O Keahi, `O Kapu`aikäula, me Po`ohilo.
From the shores of Ko`olina, Küalaka`i, Kalaeloa, Keoneula, Keahi, Kapu`aikäula, Po`ohilo.

Mai ka waonahele `O Pu`u Mänäwahua, `O Palehua, `O Mauna Kapu, `O Pu`u Kuua, `O Pu`u Kaua, `O Palikea, `O Pohakea, `O Pu`u Kanehoa, `O Pu`u Hapapa, me Lihue.
From the uplands of Pu`u Mänäwahua, Palehua, Mauna Kapu, Pu`u Kuua, Pu`u Kaua, Palikea, Pohakea, Pu`u Kanehoa, Pu`u Hapapa, Lihue.

Mai nä awäwa `O Waimänalo, `O Makaiwa, `O Pala`ila`i, O Awanui, `O Makakilo, `O Makalapa, `O Kalo`i `O Palawai, `O Ekahanui me Kalua`a.
From the valleys of Waimänalo, Makaiwa, Pala`ila`i, Awanui, Makakilo, Makalapa, Kalo`i Palawai, Ekahanui, Kalua`a.

Eö mai e nä küpuna I hala.
Heed my call to the ancestors.

E`ae mai mäkou e komo I ko alo.
Allow us to enter your home.

E`ae mai mäkou e nänä i nä manu `Ö`o ai none `O Känehili.
Allow us to see the `Ö`o as he seeks the none of Känehili.

E`ae mai mäkou e `inu I ka wai I huki `ia e Käne me Kanaloa ma Känehili.
Allow us to taste of the waters brought forth by Kane and Kanaloa at Känehili.

E`ae mai mäkou e nänä ke kumu `ulu `O Kaha`i.
Allow us to see the breadfruit tree of Kaha`i.

E`ae mai mäkou e loa`a iä Kaha`i ma Küalaka`i.
Allow us to find Kaha`i at Küalaka`i.

E`ae mai mäkou e nänä iä Hi`iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele I lehiwa ai kona wai aka I ka waipuna `O Hoakalei.
Allow us to see Hi`iaka as she admires her reflection in the Spring of Hoaka Lei.

E `ae mai mäkou e nänä I ke Akua Noho I Pu`u `O Kapolei.
Allow us to see the Akua Noho on the hill at Pu`u `O Kapolei.

E `ae mai mäkou e nänä ka lä I kau ma ke kua `O Pu`u `O Kapolei I ke au Mahinaona.
Allow us to see the setting sun over Pu`uokapolei in the Mahinaona.

E `ae mai mäkou e nänä I nä lapu ai hewa ma ke kula `O Kaupe`a.
Allow us to see those seeking spiders and moths on the Plains of Kaupe`a.

E `ae mai mäkou e loa`a ka Pöhaku `elua o nä kupua-hine `O Pükaua.
Allow us to find the stone of the two supernatural women of Pükaua.

E `ae mai mäkou e lohe I ke kani o nä manu o ka uka.
Allow us to hear the chatter of the birds of the uplands.

E `ae mai mäkou e lohe I ka ua kani koa.
Allow us to hear the rain as it falls on the koa.

E `ae mai mäkou e `ike`ike aheahe o ka makani I ke alo.
Allow us to feel the gentle wind in our face.

E `ae mai mäkou e lohe ka `ulaleo o nä küpuna I hala.
Allow us to hear the voices of those gone by.

E `ae mai mäkou e `ike I ko aloha.
Allow us to feel your presence.

E nä küpuna, e maliu mai I ko mäkou kahea.
Heed my call to the ancestors.

E `ae mai mäkou e komo I ko alo.
Allow us to enter your home.

Written for those of today and those yet to come…..

This essay was first published on myadvertiser.com in March 2007.