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| A view of one of the many littoral tension cracks that run parallel to the coast on the newly acquired county lands makai of Ocean View. The water level rises with the tides, and the water is the least brackish at high tide. Photo by Ann Bosted |
The land is known for its sandy beach area, abundance of archaeological sites, remnants of a Hawaiian fishing community called Waikapuna Village, and two miles of coast where the ancient Ala Kahakai Historic Trail has long carried people from one place to another.
A large contingent of people from Hawai`i Island was at the meeting to support the bid for Legacy Land funds. Ala Kahakai Trail Superintendent Aric Arakaki, Trust for Public Land representative Laura Ka`akua, and Ala Kahakai Trail Association board member Keoni Fox, whose has Hawaiian family ties to the property, all made presentations. Also attending was County of Hawaiʻi land acquisition expert Alexandra Kelepolo; Michelle Galimba whose family ranch runs cattle at Waikapuna and Kaunamano; Ala Kahakai board member Keola Paik and Laʻakea Suganuma.
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| Rounded beach rocks were used as stepping stones by early inhabitants. Photo by Ann Bosted |
Another possible source for funding for the Wakapuna acquisition is the county “Two Percent Fund” that comes from taxes on real estate. See more in the Nov. 2 of the Kaʻū News Briefs at kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com.
THE COUNTY’S NEWLY ACQUIRED 3,200 ACRES with a mile of coast
makai of the town of Ocean View was the site of a field trip Friday by land
managers to evaluate its potential. The county’s Property Management
Technician, Alexandra Kelepolo, led the group.
Keola Awong, manager of the
Kahuku Unit, represented Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Accompanying Kelepolo from the County
Finance Department were Hamana Ventura, a property manager, and Iwaloa Chilson.
Representing Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail were Superintendent Aric
Alakaki and Archaeologist Rick Gmirkin, along with Keoni Fox of the Ala Kahakai
Trail Association. Matt Clark, an archaeologist, represented University of
Hawaiʻi, Hilo Heritage Management Program.
Traveling in four-wheel-drive vehicles, the group
caravanned down Road to the Sea. This rough road borders the state owned Manuka
Natural Area Reserve. Once
on County land, the group quickly realized that the first order of business
was collecting trash. Some was marine debris washed ashore, and some was left
by campers. Kelepolo and Fox broke
out trash bags, which were quickly filled.
Clark
carried an archaeological report dating from 1987, enabling him to lead the
group from site to site, finding well-preserved signs of early habitation. This
was apparent where entrances to low lava tubes were surrounded by rock walls to
act as wind breaks and opihi shell middens were in abundance. They also found areas where hollows had
been ground into the rock – either for tool making or food preparation. In a
number of places they found trails built using smooth beach stones,
carefully placed to act as stepping stones. In other sites the rounded beach
stones had been used as quarrying tools and some petroglyphs were noticed.
The group was particularly fascinated with littoral tension cracks, which
prompted speculation as to how these natural, water-filled, vertical cracks, which
run parallel to the coast, were formed.
Yesterday,
renowned volcanologist Jack Lockwood told The
Kaʻū Calendar that littoral
tension cracks are typically found on volcanic islands and form
parallel to coastlines. He
explained:
“These are found in Kaʻū up to 2,500'- feet - or so - elevation, but are most common near coastlines where coastal erosion relieves
gravitational stresses. The ones in that new County-protected land below
Ocean View are particularly well-developed. They are wonderful, unpolluted
water sources – as well as beautiful passageways to explore with mask and
snorkel. I have observed that salinity varies with the tides. High tide is when the water is the
least brackish.”
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County Property Management Technician, Alexandra Kelepolo
and Keoni Fox of Ala Kahakai Trail Association pick up marine trash and garbage.
Photo by Ann Bosted
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Field trip participants had lots of comments to make on the County’s
newest land preservation. Awong called it a “beautiful, rich, cultural
resource. I could see a park here. A key component would be getting the community to steward the place and
educate the public. The Hawksbill
Turtles have established their spots, and as they came first, their needs
should have priority. During the
turtle season, the public would need to be educated about them.”
Kelepolo
agreed saying that signs warning the public that this beach is used by
endangered Hawksbill Turtles are essential.
“Many people don’t know that this is a turtle breeding area and drive
their jeeps everywhere. We have to
put up signs and access may have to be restricted during the breeding
season. It’s a matter of educating
the public,” she added.
Arakaki who now superintends the trail, commented: “I feel overwhelmed
by all I have seen here. It is pristine. The evidence of the people who lived
here is fresh and I hope we can save that and work with the community of people
who have ancestral connections to this area. We also need the participation of
the NGO’s – specialists in their field who can contribute to the project.”
His
Ala Kahakai Trail colleague, Rick Gmirkin described the property as “spectacular”
and “a celebration. If you don’t like lava you won’t dig this place, but I
think the public should be thrilled with the acquisition.”
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| Two depressions worked into the lava rock, which could be grinding areas for food or tools, in a bygone era. Photo by Ann Bosted |
Ala Kahakai Trail is typically managed in sections by the local
communities as projects. It is not
one single trail, but rather a system of trails going around the west, south
and east of the island, with other mauka-makai trails.
The county’s property manager, Ventura, described the property as a
“time capsule.”
“There are so many untold stories and here we have the
opportunity to research and find out our past. This property is a snapshot of another era when communities
were able to sustain themselves and meet their own needs. I think the county did an incredible
job in preserving all this.”
As
an archaeologist, Clark summed up his overall impression as “amazing, beautiful
and breathtaking. There is so much to see and discover. I was taken with how the people lived –
how they made tools from the lava, and how they built shelters to protect
themselves from the wind and sun. The terrain must have been quite different then. From reports we know that they were
able to grow sweet potatoes.
“I
would like to see it managed as Open Space. Fortunately, stewardship money is
available for groups to take care of the land, so I would hope that descendants
of those who lived there and local residents will develop a management plan and
accept kuleana for the ʻaina. This could change the way conservation is done in
Hawaiʻi. It is important to get
local people involved so that they have a stake in what is going on there. You have only to look at the ATV tracks
on the cinder cones to know that this land needs protection,” added Clark.
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| Wheelchair accessible for exploring, picnicking and use of a barbecue at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. |
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP, ONCE A DETAINMENT CAMP is a presentation this evening at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 7 p.m. Archaeologist, Dr. Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamua, discusses detention of Japanese-Americans following the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Free, park entry fees apply.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT MAKING for adults is Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. at Kahuku County Park. Ages 18 and older. 929-9913.
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| Kaʻū Coffee court represents the industry in the annual Christmast Parade. Photo by Julia Neal |
FAMILY READING NIGHT, Thursday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.. at Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033.
KAʻŪ COFFEE BEAUTIES are making their rounds at Christmas events in Kaʻū. They were seen last weekend in the Pāhala Christmas Parade.
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| Miss Kaʻū Peaberry Chazlynn Pua-Queja. Photo by Julia Neal |
groups, churches and agencies is Dec. 15. The annual business and community resource guide is sponsored by Kaʻū Chamber of Commerce and produced by The Kaʻū Calendar. It includes photography and art by Kaʻū residents, a calendar of events, listings and feature stories including winners of the recent Beauty of Kaʻū art show, sponsored by the Chamber. The Directory raises scholarship money for students from Kaʻū throughout their higher education in trades, college and university studies. Printed each January, 7,500 copies of The Directory are distributed throughout Kaʻū and Volcano. To sign up, contact geneveve.fyvie@gmail.com .
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| Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Karlee Fukunaga-Camba. Photo by Julia Neal |
REP. RICHARD CREAGAN’S OCEAN VIEW FORUM will be held at Ocean View Community Center next Monday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Creagan represents District 5 in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives and chairs the Committee on Agriculture. District 5 includes Honuʻapo to Nāʻālehu, to Ocean View, to Capt. Cook, Kealakekua and part of Kailua-Kona.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY is ongoing through the holidays at Volcano Art Center in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.
VOTE FOR THE BEST DECORATED Kilauea Military Camp cottage through the holidays.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SESVEN DAYS A WEEK.
