Molokai History

July 9 - The History of Molokai (July 9)

The Molokai (Tara O'Neill, Mahina Hou and Mililani Hanapi). During their first study trip on the Isle of Molokai on the early mornings of 9 July 2013, the members of the H?k?le'a crews took part. Emphasis was placed on the work of the people of Kuwait, who devoted their life to the preservation and protection of the Molokai people' s cultural, national and historical heritage, without subsidies or outside financing and often in contradiction to the rules and ambitions of the state and the Fed.

The people of Couuna, who have been kind enough to join us in sharing their manaos, have devoted their life to the tranquil, brave and prolific way of life that has contributed to maintaining the 1970s rebirth of the indigenous people of Hawaii and to reminding present and prospective generation of the many ways of defending a civilization and resisting repression.

Tante Mililani explains H?k?le'a the importance of the port of Kamalo as one of three harbours of access to be seen from the canal. We began our trip eastwards under the direction of Aunt Mililani Hanapi. It began by telling the story of the country from Kawela to Pualei.

Before Kamehameha, during the period of Alapai naui, this area was in a fierce struggle with four armed forces from O'ahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii. Oahu and Kauai troops tried to conquer Molokai because of its strategical position within the archipelago and because the islands were a wealthy alimentation area.

Hawaii and Maui allied with Molokai and struggled to defend them and their population. The Kamalo was the place where the battles began when the Hawaii, Maui and Molokai armed services pushed the Oahu and Kauai army back to Naiwa and Kalamaula on the western side of the Isle.

This is Kamalo harbour with the Lanai is the backdrop. It was here that Aunt Mililani and Uncle Alapa'i told how this country (and her homeland) had been imprisoned for generation by Aunt Mililani's forefathers, and how they devoted their life to recovering their homeland and overcoming insuperable opportunities.

Aunt Alapa' i and Uncle Mililani are well-known artists and teachers of the history of Hawaii. Reclaiming the privileges and accessibility to their country in their Ahupua'a, they are planning to construct a home to raise others to conserve the history of this country and the many generation that have lived there. The Kiha loco is about 600 years old and the line of the country can be linked with travellers from Tahiti.

There are six couples connecting a part of our past on Molokai with Kapukapuahakea or Taputapuatea. At the northern bank of Wailau there is also a hot spring known to the Molokai as Tahitian Heiau. 3. The Molokai has three known docks. One of Hawaii's oldest places to land is the Halawa Valley, which was first frequented by those who started sailing from Marquesas.

It is situated at the foot of Pu'u O Hoku (the Star Hill) at the easternmost tip of the Molokai. Aunt Alapa' a and Uncle Mililani believe that it is important to take charge of these places and to know them, because it is important to know the context of the place and how the local inhabitants are linked to the country.

Mister Maka, a member of the H?k?le'a team, summed up how important it is to understand the history of this country, its history, its cultures and its peoples by saying: "You must see what no man can see. That is Aunt Mililani and Uncle Alapa'i's aim, to make what we can no longer see seen possible by dividing the histories of this place and thus creating links between them.

To Uncle Leimana this place is his heritage and he is proud to explain how this pond was constructed and cared for independently of state or corporation subsidies. Our last stop on our trip was in the countries of H?k?le'a teammember, Mahina Hou and his woman Tammy. The Halawa Valley is considered one of the first places to be populated by the locals of Hawaii.

A generation ago this country was full of Lo'i rivers and creeks. Well-known as the country of abundance, as the name of the place shows: Ha (breath of life) and Lawa (appropriate or sufficient). There were once brooks in this area with many fishing and lots of space for breeding potash.

When they lost their lands, farmers ceased to cultivate this country and relocated. H?k?le'a crews were honoured to help with this restorative effort by dividing the community, helping to preserve the Lo'i and support the diverse Malama Honua Cycle.