PU'UKOHOLA HEIAU NHS • KALOKO-HONOKOHAU NHP • PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU NHP A Cultural History of Three Traditional Hawaiian Sites on the West Coast of Hawai'i Island

CHAPTER IX:
PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (continued)

F. Description of Resources: Central Keokea Ahupua'a

1. House Lot

Returning to the shore from Oma'o Heiau, Emory found a large modern enclosure with attached corral in its southeast corner (Map 5). Surrounded by the enclosure were a terraced house platform, a well, and concrete salt vats, which can still be seen today. [192] Just to the west, near the shore, lay a rectangular stone platform probably originally a fishermen's shrine. Emory stated the adjoining platform and enclosure might have been quarters for a kahuna pule. [193]

2. Keawe House Site

Southeast of this enclosure lies Keawe's House Site (Map 5), an important resource both because of its age and because it shows the layout of a chief's residence, including spaces for a hale mua where the men ate and worshipped; a hale noa, the family sleeping house; and a hale 'aina, where the women ate. Remains of a canoe shed lie between two of the house platforms, probably used for storage. Artifacts found showed some historic-period use of the site. One informant told Emory that the occupant of the site in the 1870s had built the large goat pen northwest of Alahaka Heiau. Another told Emory this was originally the residence of Keawe-nui-a-'Umi (Keawe I), and was later occupied by Kiwala'o. Just south of the complex is a small rectangular platform identified as a fishermen's shrine. [194]

'Ilio Point contained an indentation on its southern edge. In about eight feet of water Emory found a stone formation resembling a dog. An informant told him its name was Keokea, hence the name of the ahupua'a, although this is questionable. The formation is connected with Hawaiian legend. [195] From Ki'i Point the shore curves in to form Alahaka Bay. A lava arch here is referred to as Ka-wai-o-Pele (the water of Pele). A trail leading from the end of the beach road east toward the 1871 trail passes between the north end of Keawe's House Site and the south wall of the enclosure to its north. Between these house sites and, the 1871 trail, Emory found the foundation remains of a stone and mortar chapel and another papamu. [196]

Illustration 188. Map 5, "Keokea . . . Center Section." Survey and map by Bishop Museum, 1957. From Emory, "Hinterland and Keamoali'i." (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

Illustration 189. Ground plan of King Keawe's House Site. Figure 15.3 in Emory, "Hinterland and Keamoali'i," p. 231.