The Kapihaʻā Interpretive Trail is an approximate one-mile round
trip. The Kapihaʻā preservation area
contains at least fifteen distinct sites, made up of more than 60 features, by
which we may see how Hawaiians lived, worked and worshiped on Lānaʻi.
Interpretive signs found along the trail identify several different
types of sites, including agricultural fields, residences, ceremonial sites and
lithic (stone) workshops.
Sign 1 - ''Wahi Pana" are storied and sacred places on the
Hawaiian landscape.
Walking the trail from this point, you will step back in time, and
glimpse life on Lānaʻi prior to the arrival of westerners in 1778.
Sign 2- Kapihaʻā: Life Along The Leeward Shore Of Lānaʻi
Close to 800 years ago, native Hawaiians settled along sheltered areas
of the coast line on Lānaʻi, and then extended inland where extensive dry land
agricultural fields were developed.
Because water resources were limited even then, most agricultural
pursuits were in the form of dry land crops planted upon the kula (plains) and
under the canopy of now reduced forests that collected fog drip.
Along the trail there is evidence of permanent and temporary dwellings,
agricultural plots, lithic (stone) workshops and ceremonial sites, and the
ancient setting of Kapihaʻā Village.
Sign 3 - Puʻupehe Islet
Native lore describes the platform with an upright stone in it as
either a burial place for a woman who bore the name of Puʻupehe, or as a shrine
dedicated to the god of bird catchers.
In traditional times, sea birds were an important part of the Hawaiian
diet, and koʻa (shrines) were placed on "bird islands to sustain the land
with plenty of birds."
Sign 4 - Heiau (Temple) of Kapihaʻā Village
This heiau is a significant architectural feature on the cultural
landscape of Kapihaʻā. There are five features associated with the heiau,
which include a walled platform, terraces and an ʻahu (altar or cairn).
The prominence of this site, and the fact that it commands an imposing
view of the ocean and surrounding lands, suggests that it was a temple
associated with prayers and offerings to promote the abundance of the
fisheries, or perhaps to pray for rains and sustainable growth of crops on
land.
Sign 5 - Dry Land Agricultural Terraces
Because of the arid nature of Lānaʻi, most of the crops grown here
were adapted to the kula (open flat lands), and planted in kīhāpai, and moʻo
(walled fields or shallow terraces).
Passing showers born by the nāulu (southerly) breezes and the early morning
kēhau (dew born upon mountain breezes) provided enough water for the plants to
grow.
Both natural terraces, some of which were modified, and formal
terraces, in which mulch was developed to support plant growth, may be found in
this area. Crops such as ʻuala (sweet potatoes), uhi (yams), hue (gourds), lau
ki (ti plants) and clumps of kō (sugarcane) could be grown here.
Sign 6 - Kauhale and Hale Pāpaʻi House Sites, Temporary Habitation
Sites and Shelters
On the leeward side of Lānaʻi, Kapihaʻā and neighboring villages of
the Hulopoʻe-Mānele vicinity supported a population of at least several
hundred people at any given time.
The small house sites were basically shelters from bad weather, with
most activities - such as making fishing gear, working on stone tools, and food
preparation - occurring outside.
Poles of wood, gathered from the uplands, would have been placed upon
the stone foundations of these house sites and shelters as support posts, beams
and purloins. Thatching of native pili
grass, leaves of loulu (pritchardia) palms, niu (coconut fronds), and leafy
branches from shrubs would then be lashed to the poles on narrow cross pieces,
thus providing protection from rain, cold and heat.
The house foundation has multiple terraces and separate leveled areas,
each of which would have served a special use in domestic life. Generally the
highest area on the upslope side was reserved for special functions associated
with family worship.
Sign 7 - Koʻa, a Fisherman's Shrine and Triangulation Station
A significant wealth of this part of Lana'i lay in its fisheries, as
marine resources supplied protein for the native Hawaiian diet. In addition to
fish, various pūpū (shellfish), papaʻi (crabs), and several varieties of limu
(seaweeds) were also collected along the shore and from the sea. These fishery resources, together with crops
from the uplands sustained the residents of Kapihaʻā over many generations.
A significant Hawaiian ceremonial site, a koʻa or fishing shrine, lies
to the west of this trail, perched on a promontory overlooking the ocean and
the fisherman's trail. Portions of the koʻa have collapsed, but the large mound
of coral set upon the stone foundation is symbolic of the god Kūʻula and makes
this koʻa one of the most unique sites of its kind anywhere in Hawai'i.
Fishermen sought protection during fishing trips and continued
abundance of the fisheries through offerings of fish, urchins, and shell fish
to the gods and ʻaumakua (guardians). Offerings would again be made upon return
from fishing expeditions to thank the gods for their successful catch and safe
return.
Sign 8 - The Kapihaʻā Preservation Area and Interpretive Trail
(Coastal Section)
Sections of the Fisherman's Trail along this coast follow a traditional
ala hele (trail) traveled by ancient Hawaiian residents of Lānaʻi for
generations.
The ala hele linked coastal communities together, and provided
residents with access to various resources. The ala hele that turns mauka
(upland) at this point enters the ancient village site known as Kapihaʻā.
Information on the Kapihaʻā interpretive trail is from Lānaʻi Culture
& Heritage Center, prepared by Kepā Maly, Kumu Pono Associates LLC. The image shows the map of the area; in
addition, I have included some additional images of the area in a fold of like
name in the Photos section on my Facebook page.
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