- INDEX
- CURRENT OWNER - NELHA
- SITE CURATOR
- HISTORY
- NATURAL RESOURCES - birds, fish, algae
- CROPS AND WATER - unique geology of region
- TODAY - Cyanotech is dynamiting the site
- ACTION -
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The Ho’ona Historic Preserve, including Keahole Point, is currently leased to and operated by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA) under direction of the State of Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). NELHA, in turn, leases sites to companies interested in developing aquaculture products, the largest tenant being Cyanotech, a producer of health products manufactured from algae.
The Ho’ona area includes a number of ancient structures and burial sites which are cared for by a curator, Mr. Alena Kaikekoa . He is responsible for maintenance of the site as well as providing education and interpretation to school groups and other interested parties who visit the site.
Interestingly enough, his family originally lived at the site, and much of his family is buried there today. Therefore, he has a wealth of information to share about the area and is a valuable resource in that sense.
The site was originally part of a coastal fishing village on the edge of an enormous fishpond, several miles long, called Paaiea. The pond was navigable, and used by the Hawaiian people as a protected passageway for travel in ancient times. In 1902 the pond was covered by lava, but a sprinkling of settlements arose once again on the parched landscape. In fact, the curator’s family lived on this site until it was taken over by the government in the 1940's, and much of his family is buried at the site.
Throughout history Ho’ona was known as the home of the palawa bird (sharp-tailed sandpiper), and the canoe people (transient voyagers to distant locations). Birds and human visitors had much in common, including their wide-ranging migrations. Both came to Ho’ona to rest and eat because of it’s abundant natural resources. Palawa birds, which come from as far away as Siberia, Asia, the Southern Pacific, and Australia, were once present the year round. Flocks numbering in the hundreds were found roaming the marshes and beaches and were harvested by Ho’ona villagers. Today they are few in number but can still be seen during the fall, with some staying until spring.
Ho’ona residents took care of localized ‘opelu (makeral scad) populations by feeding the koa during certain seasons and by honoring a kapu ("closure") to fishing during the times of year when juvenile and ripe female ‘opelu were most abundant. In turn, ‘opelu schools fed the villagers and sustained large populations of ahi and nal’a (Hawaiian spinner dolphins and spotted dolphins) in the region offshore of Keahole Point.
Fishing provided a livelihood and food for the village. There were not physical or conceptual barriers between land and sea. Ho’ona villagers recognized that the ocean’s resources depend on many things coming from land, so that what takes place on land affects the health of the nearshore ocean, it’s reefs, and other living things.
Along the shores various limu (marine algae) were common, especially limu kohu, limu pahe’e and limu wawae’loli. Invertebrates including ko’ele, opihi (black-foot and yellow-foot limpets), wana, hau’uke’uke, and loli (sea cucumber) were abundant food sources which were harvested. Brightly colored reef fish served as food and were a delight to the eyes of those who swam in the waters of Keahole.
Common shorebirds in the region included black-footed albatross, koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), palawa birds, gray francolin, and hui manu (frigate birds). The nearby ocean was inhabited by honu (green sea and Hawaiian hawksbill turtles), ‘opelu, ahi, naia (dolphin sp.), kohola (humpback whales), mano (various sharks, primarily thresher and tiger), hihimanu (manta rays), and reef fish such as aholehole (Hawaiian flagtail), moi (Pacific threadfin), ulua (various jacks and trevailles) and nenue (rudderfish).
Crops were also grown to feed the villages. Wetland Kalo (taro) was grown in lo’i, which filled with water that naturally seeped into the area from the combined watersheds of Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Unique geological conditions produced underground springs for which Ho’ona was known. In addition to a unique algae community, crustaceans, mollusks and fishes flourished in Ho’ona’s anchialine ponds. The natural underground water source also supported groves of coconut, kukui, pumpkin and uwala (sweet potato).
The currents at Keahole Point, it’s steep drop off, the multiple layers of rock of varying permeability which reach the coastline at this unique geologic site add to the development of a natural upwelling which is unequaled throughout most of the Hawaiian Islands.
The Ho’ona area has many unique features, a strong history, and an abundance of geological, burial and archaeological sites that can teach us more about the world we live in and Hawaiian history in particular. It is an area that can and must be preserved for future generations. However, today Cyanotech is in the process of firing the curator while at the same time dynamiting a large portion of the area to expand their business. This is being done without proper environmental impact studies, or any attempt to review the site prior to blowing it up. Ironically, DLNR Chairman Mike Wilson, who claims to have a program to identify environmental "hot spots", has given this issue a cold shoulder by going ahead and instigating the eviction of the curator and condoning the destructions of grave sites where his family is buried.
We have written a letter to Mr. Wilson asking penetrating questions about the site and what is going on there today. We asked for an explanation of what is happening, both environmentally and socially. We also want to know how economic management, environmental protection and historic preservation can all be overseen by a single agency - the Department of Land and Natural Resources. We have also contacted the Governor’s office, per their request, outlining an action plan. Click the following to see the letters:
LETTER TO GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PROPOSING ACTIONS
THE CURATOR'S STORY AND REQUEST FOR ACTION
We are now asking that you, too, contact the Governor of the State of Hawaii at gov@aloha.net, asking for information and expressing your concerns about the what is happening at Ho’ona.
Thank you for getting involved!