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 VIII:
KALOKO-HONOKOHAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (continued)

I. Archeological Research Accomplished

1. Honokohau Area

In 1969 the Lanihau Corporation contracted with the Bishop Museum for a survey of the Honokohau area within the landmark where the company planned commercial development. Deborah F. Cluff conducted this reconnaisance of the seaward portion of Honokohau, mapping and recording features. The following is some of the detailed information on resources she provided that enlarges on the descriptions presented earlier in this section.

Cluff noted 'Aimakapa Fishpond as a large and still functioning body of water surrounded by marsh and dense groundcover with a stretch of sandy beach on the west. She believed the area surrounding the pond offered potential for archaeological research on the adaptation of the aboriginal Hawaiians to the land and its various resources. [94] She mentioned finding numerous sites, including paved footpaths, rock shelters, walls, scattered graves, monumental ahu, a burial ground, walled enclosures, platforms, and the holua.

The area lying between 'Aimakapa Fishpond and 'Ai'opio Fishtrap and continuing east from there she found to be very important historically and archaeologically. Its features were more elaborately constructed and suggested more permanent occupation. Architectural styles indicated a culture in the process of change, as evidenced by the find of a cement tomb in the shape of an early grass house. She also found numerous petroglyphs depicting figures and objects common in prehistoric Hawai'i as well as Western motifs such as European ships and rifles. [95] Cluff wrote that 'Aimakapa Fishpond, with its population of birds, its petroglyphs, its heiau, house platforms, holua, papamu, trails, bait cups carved in pahoehoe, and burial ground, all located in one general area, provided a unique opportunity to view numerous components of an ancient Hawaiian village. [96]

Cluff summarized that her findings substantiated that the region was important in both prehistoric and early historic Hawai'i. The importance of Honokohau's coastal portion lay in its fishponds. Her survey showed extensive use of the available land, including placement of shelters and burials on the rugged a'a beds and of crude shelters as well as better constructed house platforms and a heiau, bait cups, papamu, and petroglyphs on the pahoehoe. These areas contain information on many of the activities of early Hawaiian culture — especially house construction, religious ceremonies, and burial practices. Some of the small enclosures she found appeared to have been used for horticulture, although she believed the primary reliance for food rested on marine resources. The social system was well established, Cluff surmised, with commoners living in the barren a'a and pahoehoe areas, while royalty utilized the flat region close to the fishponds and near the heiau and holua. The most recent occupation had been around the ponds where petroglyphs depict historic objects and cement was used in wall and grave construction. [97]

Illustration 133. Honokohau coastal area surveyed for archeological sites in 1969. Figures 1 and 2 in Cuff, Archaeological Survey of the Seaward Portion of Honokohau #1 and #2, pp. 4, 6. (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)