Mililani High School Hawaii Department of Eucation

Mililani High School
Hawaii Department of Eucation
©2001 Mililani High School
http://kukaniloko.k12.hi.us
However, through different mediums of the
World Wide Web, the everlasting whisper
can once again instill in the hearts of its
descendants and also those who are open to
listening to its message.
The legacy continues...
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The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, the loud sound
of drums could be heard for miles. Lines of warrior chiefs
could be seen from afar. The signs of the gods, the
sounding of the drums and the presence of the elite
meant only one thing...
...the birth of an Ali'i.
___Mission ________
The sacred traditions of Kukaniloko were once only told
orally from generation to generation, and have almost
been forgotten like a whisper in the wind. However,
through different mediums of the World Wide Web, the
everlasting whisper can once again instill in the hearts of
its descendants and also those who are open to listening
to its message.
The legacy continues
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__About _____
Mililani High School students of the Science and Technology Learning Center
were asked by Diane Oshiro, assistant superintendent of telecommunications
for the Hawaii Department of Education, to create a web site that features the
legacy of Kukaniloko.
__Process_____
STLC students had to go out into the field and inquire those of the Hawaiian
community and state agencies about the sacred site. Numerous hours of video
footage were recorded and then transcribed to text. Rolls of pictures of the
stones, petroglyphs and surrounding area were taken. MHS students of a
Hawaiian studies class were also documented singing two chants of
Kukaniloko. The video footage were turned into QuickTime movies using
iMovie; the pictures were edited with Adobe Photoshop, and some were
converted into QuickTime VR (Virtual Reality); and various elements of our
audio/visual resources were taken to create the Flash animation and
navigation bar.
__Team Members______
The students of the Science and Technology Learning Center, Options Science
7th Period Class.
Gaylen Kobayashi Cameraman; the wizard behind the audio/visual footage.
Elayne Man Webmaster, researcher, photographer, Flash & graphics artist;
she basically "glued" everyone's content together into a web site.
Mark Pilar Researcher, photographer; in charge of the "Cultural Significance"
page, and also transcribed a lot of footage. (It's harder than it sounds!)
Patrick Randle Assistant webmaster, researcher, photographer; in charge of
the "History" page and he, too, transcribed footage.
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Kukaniloko is a registered historic site and a Hawaii State Park. This site is
significant for cultural and astronomical reasons. It is believe it might have
been founded in the early 1100's and has genealogical records dating back to
the 1050's. It was the birthplace of the Ali'i and a learning place for the
privileged. Commoners were killed on site if they entered this consecrated
ground.
Today the site is an allotted 5-acre plot of grassy soil, with a .5 acre spot
where the actual stones are located. Back in the reign of the Ali'i the site was
larger, spanning the distance between mountains for hundreds of acres. Now
it is reduced to a dirt road leading to a grove of eucalyptus and coconut trees.
But beneath those trees is a secret long forgotten. The secrets of the painless
birth, the secrets of the navigators, and the secrets of generations of
Hawaiian ancestors now lost in the surrounding pineapple fields and paved
roads.
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Even through its years of neglect, some people recognize Kukaniloko's
significance and work to preserve it. Years back an organization called the
Daughters of Hawaii built a picket fence around the site. A chain link fence
was proposed but was never constructed. It has been kept from major
damage for many years now, and thanks to the Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic
Club, it has been saved from the overwhelming destruction of progress.
On the site there are 3 invitational signs: two by the
parking lot and one on the other side of Kukaniloko
where the dirt road used to be. These where the first
interpretation given to passerby's until recently. Now
there are 3 large interpretive plaques (installed in
September 2000 by the Department of Land and
Natural Resources Division of State Parks) that
describe the importance and significance of
Kukaniloko. The Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club can
be contacted for interpretive tours.
Not only does the site hold cultural and astronomical significance to the
community, but also to visitors from around the world. Kukaniloko is cared for
and protected by the people of Wahiawa. This is not only a state park, but
also a sacred site for the people of Hawaii.
An artist's depiction of what Kukaniloko may have
looked like.
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__The Birthing Stone ______
Kukaniloko was one of two sites set aside for the birth of royalty in Hawaii.
The Ali'i were the managers of people and the land, and were thought of as
gods. The Ali'i gave birth here because the mana, the spiritual entity, accorded
the royal child. The child was normally born in the month of August, when
Kukaniloko was a flux of mana, and the gods would recognize the child born
here.
__Before the Birth______
Kukaniloko means, "To anchor the cry from within." It was believed that
those who gave birth here would do so with ease and no pain. In order to
achieve this, the mother needed to follow a strict diet and exercise regime
recommended by the Kahuna. Many various Hawaiian plants were ingested
also to prepare the mother for a painless birth.
__The Birth______
Thirty-six stones guard the entrance: 18 on the left, 18 on the right. These
stones are NOT part of the originals, but were placed here by the Department
of Land and Natural Resources. These stones represent the 36 chiefs who
witnessed the birth. A total of 48 chiefs witnessed the birth and rituals. These
chiefs were used for oral references, as nothing in the past was written down.
These chiefs pledged to support the newborn ali'i.
The mother would be transported to the Kukaniloko
birthing stone on a finely woven mat. The mother
would not actually touch the rock; it was a gravitytype birth. The mother would drink a sap mixed with
water so the birthing process would be painless.
There are indentations in the stone where the
retainers would place their legs for leverage to hold
the mother. Two more retainers stood at the foot of
Front view of the birthing stone
the rock. The mother would place her feet on their
hipbones for support. Another Kahuna would stand
behind the mother and she would push down on the retainers' shoulders. One
last Kahuna would receive
the baby.
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__After the Birth______
The Kahuna, after receiving the baby, would proceed to
Hoolonopahu Heiau, located a short distance away. Ten
minutes later, the splitting of the bamboo ceremony
would commence. A Kahuna would proceed to split a
piece of bamboo between his teeth, this bamboo would
be used in the severing of the umbilical cord, separating
the mother from the child. At the completion of the birth
process, two drums, or "Pahu" were sounded. These
Back view of the birthing stone
drums could be heard from miles away, and this is how
the commoners were informed of the birth of a new Ali'i.
The new Ali'i would be brought up by the Kahunas. The Ali'i would have special
Kapus placed on him throughout his entire life.
__Cultural Background ______
A requirement thought necessary in order to give birth at Kukaniloko was the
avoidance of human sacrifice and an unblemished genealogy. It is thought that
King Kamehameha's wife Keopualani did not make it to Kukaniloko to give birth
because he practiced human sacrifice.
Danny Au from the Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club demonstrates one of the positions the Kahuna would
be in to assist the pregnant mother
The first to be born at Kukaniloko was Kapawa. It was his parents who moved the
birth site to Wahiawa. The Ali'i class who gave birth here were known as the Lo
Ali'i. These people attained their Ali'i status when another Ali'i died. Ali'i born at
Kukaniloko were deemed fitting rulers to govern their people. Such a story
occurred in the past on the island of Oahu. Oahu was in a depression and
starvation ran rampant on the island. The people were unhappy and turned to the
fit leader born at Kukaniloko. This new leader encouraged farming crops and
unified the island by training first born of each family in an area known today as
Mililani Technology Park. People from the entire island sent support and their
young and everyone there. The Hilo brothers were jealous of the prosperity and
waged war with the ruler of Oahu. The war that followed left 4000 slaughtered in
the area known as Kipapa Gulch. "Kipapa" means to be paved, and the area was
indeed paved with the bodies. The two Hilo brothers were eventually captued and
decapitated. Their skulls were left to warn what would happen to anyone who
challenged the Oahu stronghold.
__Cultural Importance ______
Kukaniloko is one of the most sacred places in Hawaii. The
Ali'i wanted their children born here just for its spiritual
power. Only Ali'i were allowed to set foot upon this ground.
Special markers were set out on the boundaries. Multiple
barriers were set up to protect this land, to ensure that if
one got past the first boundary, one would not get past the
second. The Hawaiians
believed
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An artist's depiction of the
birthing process
The Hawaiians used the sun, moon, planets and stars in relationship to features
in the landscape to mark time and place. From here at Kukaniloko, the setting of
the sun along the peaks of the Waianae Range could have been observed and
used as a calendar. Some of the stones at Kukaniloko may have been used as
reference points to observe the sun setting behind Mt. Kaala of the Waianae
Mountains at the equinox.
Definitions:
e·qui·nox - Either of the two times during a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the
length of day and night are approximately equal.
sol·stice - Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial
equator. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the winter solstice is the shortest.
In 1982, retired U.S. Army Major Harry G.
Kurth discovered a connection between a
diamond-shaped rock at Kukaniloko and
that of Gilbertese "stone boat" formations
in Micronesia which are used as star
compasses. Kurth called this the "KaneLono" rock.
The prominances on the edge of the rock
will cast a shadow on different parts of the
concentric circle petroglyph in different
times of the year.
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University of Hawaii Professor Rubellite Johnson,
teaching to a class of students, was personally
handed Major Kurth's work and findings on the
Kane-Lono rock.
A world-known concentric circle is the Stonehenge
Stone Circle in England, made up of concentric rings
of stones and holes, and were used to mark the
summer solstice.
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__Audio______
Audio clips of chants available at web site. Chants in Hawaiian and English are
in the Chants section.
He Mele No Kukaniloko - written in the 1920s by well-known composer John Holani Ha'o.
Chant for Kapawa - Kapawa was the first royal child to be born at Kukaniloko.
__Quicktime Virtual Reality (Panoramic View)______
Two panoramic views of the site are available for viewing at the web site.
__Movie Clips______
Movie clips are available at the web site. The following are the context of
these video clips.
The "Master Riddle" by Tom Lenchanko
“There's supposed to be 18 serrated bumps, 18 on both sides;
36 all together. In navigation, 360 degrees, so each one has a
definite meaning. Like the 36 warrior chiefs, what does that
mean? 36 weeks in a trimester. All these things all interplay,
so what is the story? There is no story, it's the master riddle
for us to find out and try to understand. What is the answer to
the riddle? The question is, 'Who are you? Whose child are you?'"
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Tom Lenchanko describes his unique Hawaiian culture
"This is very important, and that's why these Kahuna's, the
priests of the old days, they continuous guarded their
Kapu's, and the practice was to establish the genealogy,
the line of chiefs that could not be interrupted. When you
trace back your line, you can go back until you get tired of
talking and then brother can pick up and he keeps going.
When he gets tired, the next one can go on and on until
you can trace back to the gods from which we were descended from. That is
our belief, that is our tradition. And that's why pieces like this become most
significant because no one else has one like this."
Danny Au from the Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club describes the
procedure the mother must follow before the birth.
"The mother had to be brought here, she had to follow
certain rules and guidelines before the birthing took place;
a certain diet, a certain exercise program. And if the baby
was born as prescribed then he had certain kapu's, certain
rules, certain laws that were attached to him, not just for a
certain period of time, it was for his entire life period."
Danny Au and Tom Lenchanko display the position the retainers would
be in.
"This is the rock of Kukaniloko. These grooves were
actually placed here on purpose because it was a gravitytype birth. This is how the retainers sat and presented the
mother."
Tom Lenchanko from the Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club explains
Kukaniloko's significance to its Hawaiian people.
Wahiawa."
"This place was set aside for the birth of the royal child. He
was called an Ali'i. A manager of people, a god, and a
blazing heat. Normally born during the month of August,
that's the hottest time. So all this spiritual entity was put
into this child that was born. And everything that took
place gave this opinion that this child is now recognized by
the gods and setforth in the birthing at this site in
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Martha Yent from the Natural Land and Resources.
"Kukaniloko has been called the most significant cultural
site here on the island of Oahu. It becomes imperative that
we as state parks make every effort to preserve this site
for the future but also to respect to the cultural
importance, to work with the Hawaiian community so that
we understand why this place is important."
Martha Yent presents some information she knows about Kukaniloko's
past.
"Kukaniloko in the past is somewhat of a mystery and this
is one of the things we tried to research when we were
doing this interpretive sign. If you look at this first panel,
this was as close as we could come to what the site might
have looked like."
Martha Yent presents additional information she knows about
Kukaniloko's past.
"Mr. Gooddale, I believe, in 1916 set this area aside.
Shortly afterwards, the Daughters of Hawaii started
maintaining the site; they put up a little white picket
fence."
Rubellite Johnson from the University of Hawaii defines "equinox" for
a class of Mililani High School students.
"Are we heading towards equal days and equal nights?
Yes, about what time? Middle or towards the end of March.
Can you remember these numbers, 20-22? Usually on
[March] 21, is what we call the "equinox day" when the
sun is on the equator."
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"He Mele No Kukaniloko," honors the sacred site of Kukaniloko. It
was written in the 1920s by well-known composer John Holani Ha'o.
He Mele No Kukaniloko
Song of Kukaniloko (translation)
No Kukaniloko ko'u aloha,
For Kukaniloko is my love,
Ke kupa noho kula a o Kalakoa,
The native born that dwells on the plain of Kalakoa
Kahi hanau hoi o na alii,
Birth place indeed of the chiefs
Wohi hoi a o Hawaii nei;
Highest chiefs indeed of Hawaii here
Walea i ke kui lei Ahihi,
Accustomed to stringing wreaths of ahihi
Lei hookipa no ka malihini,
Wreath of entertainment for the stranger
Paa mai uka i ka uhiwai;
Finished from upland in the heavy mist
O ke kehau anu ko ke kuahiwi;
The cold dew of the mountain
Halihali mai ana i ke ala,
Bearing the fragrance
Ke ala o maile Nohoanu;
The fragrance of mana that dwells in the cold
Auau aku i ka wai o Kuaikua
Bathe in the water of Kuaikua
Wai hooheno a na alii;
Cherished water of the chiefs
Na mamo hoi a Kakuhihewa,
The descendants indeed of Kakuhihewa
A na pua a ka Na'i Aupuni;
The offspring of the Conqueror of the Realm
Nana i rula mai a pololei,
Who ruled wisely
Me ka ihe laumeki i ka lima;
With the barbed spear in the hand
A he puuwai koa me ka wiwoole
And the brave heart with fearlessness
Imi maluhia no ka lahui;
Seeking peace for the race.
Hui pau ia mai na ailana,
All united are the islands
Mai Hawaii a Niihau
From Hawaii to Niihau
Noho hoomalu ia me ke kaulike
Swelling in peace with justice
Mamalahoa kanawai;
Mamala Hoa is the law
Hainaia mai ana ka puana,
Told is the refrain
No Kukaniloko ko'u aloha.
For Kukaniloko is my love
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This chant memorializes Kapawa, the first ali'i born at Kukaniloko.
Chant for Kapawa
Chant for Kapawa (translation)
'O Kapawa, 'o ke ali'i o Wai'alua
Kapawa, the chief of Wai'alua,
I hanau i Kukaniloko
Was born at Kukaniloko;
'O Wahiawa ke kahua
Wahiawa the site;
'O Lihu'e ke ewe
At Lihu'e the placenta,
'O Ka'ala ka piko
At Ka'ala the navel cord,
'O Kapukapuakea ka a'a
At Kapukapuakea (Heiau) the caul,
O Kaiaka i Maeaea
(Heiau) of Kaiaka at Maeaea;
Ha'ulei i Nukea i Wainakia
He died at Nukea at Wainakia
I'A'aka i Haleu
Through (the surf of) 'A'aka at Haleu,
I ka la'i malino o Hauola
Through the calm stillness of Hauola,
Ke li'i 'o Kapawa ho'i no
The chief Kapawa was taken,
Ho'i no i uka ka waihona
Taken upland (in Iao) for laying away,
Ho'i no i ka pali kapu o na li'i
Taken to the sacred pali of the chiefs,
He kia'i Kalahiki no Kaka'e
Kalahiki is the "Watchman" of Kaka'e,
'O Heleipawa ke keiki a Kapawa
Heleipawa was the son of Kapawa,
He keiki ali'i no Wai'alua i O'ahu
A chiefly child of Wai'alua, Oahu
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__From the East (including Central District)
Go west on H-1 until the H-2 exit. Take the H-2 to Exit 7 to
Kamehameha Highway. Going north on Kamehameha Highway, go
through Wahiawa and past the bridge after California Avenue. There
will be a stoplight after the bridge, turn left and you will be at the
opening of Kukaniloko.
__From the West _____
Head onto Kamehameha Highway, towards Wahiawa. Turn right
when you reach the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and
Whitmore Avenue. If coming from the Whitmore Village direction,
stay on Whitmore Avenue, heading towards Kamehameha Highway.
Drive straight ahead the intersection and you will be at Kukaniloko.
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The majority of the information and knowledge of Kukaniloko presented here are the result
of many interviews and sources. We wish to thank the following people who have gladly
helped us to obtain this knowledge and live this legacy through the technology of the World
Wide Web.
Much Mahalo to...
Mr. Danny Au, Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club
Mr. Thomas Lenchanko, Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club
Mrs. Rubellite Johnson, University of Hawaii
Mr. Ron Kubota, Soft-Plus
Ms. Martha Yent, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Mr. David Kobashigawa, Computer Expo 2001
Mr. Randle Kong, Computer Expo 2001
Also to the follow from Mililani High School...
Mrs. Elaine Mahoney, STLC
Mr. Darell Ota, Industrial Arts/SkillsUSA-VICA
Mrs. June Asato, Chemistry/SkillsUSA-VICA
Mr. Owen Takamori, Industrial Arts/SkillsUSA-VICA
Ms. Bishop, Electronic Media
Mrs. Iona, Hawaiian Studies
Ka'ala Lo, 2001 Alumna
Aditya Savara, 2000 Alumnus
Amanda Dau
Steven Gionson, Jr.
Jared Hiromasa
Austin Matlock
Thomas Pollard
Students of the Science and Technology Learning Center
Mililani High School Principal Mr. Robert Ginlack, Administration, Staff and Students
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