![]() ![]() In the twentieth century, land transactions became murky because of shady land deals, adverse possession and sometimes outright sale. Anyone who has been to the remodeled International Marketplace will know that this was Queen Emma’s property (Kimo Kahoano and his partner reenact her legacy nightly at the Marketplace). Kamehameha V and later Pauahi had the lands that are now Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, and the royal grove of niu called Helumoa has been recreated in the shopping center along Kalākaua Boulevard. Miriam Likelike had that property where Kaʻiulani famously lived. I grew up singing the song “ʻĀinahau” with my mother, but didnʻt know it was around the corner from our apartment. In the Kingdom period, most of the major aliʻi had lands in Waikīkī as the Kamehameha dynasty held on to those prized possessions. In the unification period, both Kahekili and Kamehameha considered Oʻahu the prize of their conquests, and resided at Waikīkī for a time. Morris, 2019 Nā Pōhaku Ola Kapaemāhū a Kapuni Nā Pōhaku Ola Kapaemāhū a Kapuni is a Kanaka Maoli cultural monument in the heart of the world famous Waikīkī , on the island of Oʻahu. While this site plays a vital role in the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems and navigational histories, these stones have not always been visible and tell a dynamic story through how they have been valued and interacted with differently across time. According to Teoratuuaarii Morris, who wrote a Master’s thesis on the stones: ![]() ![]() ![]() One of the few ancient features remaining in Waikīkī are the “wizard stones” of Kapaemāhū. Waikīkī and the surrounding areas may have been one of the largest kalo growing complexes in the world. With its broad plain (partly what we call Kaimukī) and abundant sources of water (from Mānoa and Pālolo streams, which the Ala Wai canal wastefully drains away today) it was an ideal base for building political power. Maʻilikūkahi, in the 1300s may have been the first to make Waikīkī his headquarters. I’ve been hesitant to write about Waikīkī because so much has been done on the topic, but I actually grew up there, so I feel I have the right to do so. Were I a tourist, this image of native Hawaiians invading the very spot were I stood would make me nervous. In the lobby of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is a painting by Herb Kane of Kamehameha’s fleet invading Oʻahu. ![]()
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