LIHU‘E — The theft of rocks from a Po‘ipu heiau forced those who had been quietly working for its protection to head to the County Council, seeking to raise awareness of the plight of the Kaneiolouma complex. Hui Malama O
LIHU‘E — The theft of rocks from a Po‘ipu heiau forced those who had been quietly working for its protection to head to the County Council, seeking to raise awareness of the plight of the Kaneiolouma complex.
Hui Malama O Kaneiolouma board members told the council’s Parks and Transportation Committee Wednesday the group is proposing to clear, maintain and rehabilitate the heiau, currently under county jurisdiction as the Po‘ipu Beach Park Mauka Preserve, in what would be Hawai‘i’s first “stewardship agreement” between a county government and nonprofit group.
In a presentation to the council, Randy Wichman — a Hawai‘i historian and a member of the county’s Historic Preservation Commission — detailed the lengthy history of cultural significance at the site dating back a thousand years.
In a PowerPoint document made available to The Garden Island on Friday by Council Services staff, the hui wrote that the complex contains three components: religion, agriculture and aquaculture (fish ponds), as well as the sacred spring of Waiohai.
“The amount of monumental Hawaiian architecture represented here has the potential of yielding important information regarding ancient temple religion, agriculture and fishpond management,” the hui wrote. “Extensive walled enclosures, alters, numerous bases for temple images, shrines, taro patches, irrigation ditches, a series of large fishponds, house platforms, extensive cooking areas, and terracing throughout make this complex ideal for rehabilitation.”
Westside community leader Bruce Pleas, in advocating for the proposal, said the heiau and surrounding area is “another jewel of Po‘ipu” that should be protected in perpetuity.
Later, Billy Kaohelauli‘i, who lives at the heiau, said he has already talked to Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry about an ongoing string of incidents where sacred rocks are being stolen.
Rupert Rowe said local people and local contractors have been involved, and are “stealing the energy of the heiau.”
Rowe said the group had largely kept quiet but decided now was the right time to come forward due to the theft, which council member Dickie Chang described as “sad to see,” “not pono” and “kapu.”
Wichman told the council a full report would be forthcoming, and the group wrote that a finalized stewardship agreement would help sustain “a public cultural preserve that is not only self-supporting but something this island can be proud of.”
• Michael Levine, assistant news editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mlevine@kauaipubco.com.
