T. S. Dye & Colleagues, Archaeologists, Inc.
735 Bishop St., Suite 315, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
lining Historic Properties Assessment for Finish
Line Properties, LLC, 3169 Diamond Head Road
Property, Waikı̄kı̄, Kona, O‘ahu Island,
TMK:(1)3–1–036:002 por.∗
Thomas S. Dye, Ph.D.
Elaine H. R. Jourdane
February 13, 2009
1
Introduction
At the request of Finish Line Properties, LLC, T. S. Dye & Colleagues, Archaeologists, Inc. conducted an historic properties assessment of a parcel at 3169
Diamond Head road, Waikı̄kı̄, Kona District, O‘ahu. The primary focus of the
project was to complete a background survey of archaeological information in
order to predict the types of historic sites likely to be found on the subject
property.
1.1
Project Area
The 0.414 acre project parcel is located at 3169 Diamond Head Road on the
southwest slopes of Diamond Head, approximately 0.30 mi. southeast from the
southern end of Kapi‘olani Park (fig. 1, 2). A recent GoogleEarth image shows
the parcel with at least two buildings on the property. However, the buildings
have recently been demolished.
1.2
Background Research
This archaeological assessment includes the review of historic documents, maps
and archaeological reports on file at the State Historic Preservation Division
library, the Hawaii State Library and the State Bureau of Conveyances.
∗ Finish Line Properties, LLC, c/o Long & Associates, AIA, Inc. 1100 Alakea St., 3rd Floor,
Honolulu, HI 96813.
1
2
1
INTRODUCTION
Figure 1. 3169 Diamond Head Road project location on a portion of the USGS
1998 Honolulu quadrangle.
1.2.1
makai
mauka
The project parcel is located on the makai side of Diamond Head Road and
extends between the road to the shoreline. The general topography slopes from
the north (mauka) to the shoreline and ranges in elevation between ca. 0 and
40 ft. above sea level. The soils are described as Molokai silty clay loam, 3 to 7
percent slopes. This series consists of well-drained soils found on the uplands
of the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Oahu and were formed in material
weathered from basic igneous rock [3]. The project site receives less than 30 in.
of rainfall annually [4].
1.2.2
ahupua‘a
Natural Setting
Traditional and Historic Land Use
The physical environment, historic properties, and history of the area have been
well documented in several studies [5; 17; 18]. The following information is a
brief review that provides context for the project.
The project site is located in the ahupua‘a of Waikı̄kı̄ in the traditional
district of Kona on the southeast coast of O‘ahu. Waikīkī ahupua‘a extends
from Mānoa on the west to Maunalua on the east. The project parcel lies on
the southwest slopes of Diamond Head, a tuff cone which was formed during the
Honolulu Volcanic Series [11:369]. The name Diamond Head, is derived from the
calcite crystals in the rocks which British sailors mistook for diamonds [11; 16]).
This landmark was traditionally known as Lae‘ahi an older name for Lē‘ahi.
1.2
Background Research
3
Figure 2. 3169 Diamond Head Road project location. Aerial photo adapted
from GoogleEarth image.
One meaning given for Le‘ahi is that Pele’s younger sister, Hi‘iaka compared the
mountain to the brow (lae) of the ‘ahi fish [16:126]. Several other names, such
as Diamond Hill and Point Rose were also used historically [18].
The project parcel lies on the coast between Waikīkī and Kūpikipiki‘ō (commonly known as Black Point) in an area known as Kaluahole. Pukui et al. [16]
translates Kaluahole as the “the āhole fish cavern”. Kaluahole is a noted place in
several legends associated with the area. In one story of Aiai, son of Kūulakai (a
god who controlled all the gods of the sea), Aiai following his fathers instructions,
. . . traveled about the islands establishing fishing stations (ko‘a) at
fishing grounds (ko‘a aina) where fish were accustomed to feed and
setting up altars (kuula) upon which to lay, as offerings to the fishing
gods, two fish from the first catch: one for the male, the other for
the female aumakua. Some accounts give Aiai a son named Puniaiki
who is a fish kupua and trickster and helps his father set up fishing
stations [1:19–20].
Beckwith [1] continues:
On Oahu, Aiai lands at Makapu‘u and makes the stone Malei the
fish stone for the uhu fish of that place. Other stones are set up at
grounds for different kinds of fish. The uhu is the common fish as far
as Hanauma. At Ka-lua-hole the ahole fish run. The fish still spawn
4
1
INTRODUCTION
about a round sandstone (called Ponahakeone) which Aiai placed
outside Kahuahui. . . [1:23]
Tomonari-Tuggle and Blankfein [18]:15 place the location of Ponahakeone
offshore of Kaluahole.
In his discussion on sharks and shark forms Kamakau [7] tells the story of a
shark who came to the area of Kaluahole and Ka‘alawai in Waikīkī.
In 1834, during the time of Kaomi, a malahini shark came to Waikiki
in seach of food. When he reached Ka‘alawai and Kaluahole, he was
refuse by the guardian of that place (ka po‘i kama‘aina kia‘i o ia
wahi ) and then he came to Kapua, where the guardians of Waikiki
were, and argued with them. They decided to kill him and leave
visible proof of it, so they forced his head into a cleft in the rocks at
Kuka‘iunahi, makai of Kupalaha [7:74].
The proposed project site is located in a portion of Royal Patent Grant 3219
deeded in June 1879 to Kahololio for $325. The grant consisted of all the land
at Kaluahole and comprised 19 acres. In 1889 Kahololio sold +/- 15 acres of the
grant lands to Sanford B. Dole. Between 1892 and 1912 Dole deeded various
parcels to George Beckley which eventually were subdivided into various lots and
identified as portions of an estate known as “Aqua Marine”1 , and the “Beckley
Tract”. After various land transactions the project parcel was eventually deeded
to Chin Ho in 1943. Since that time the current 18,029 ft.2 (0.414 ac.) parcel
has undergone numerous changes in ownership until the current owner acquired
the parcel in 2006.
1.2.3
heiau
Archaeological Background
There are no known archaeological surveys for the project parcel, however several
archaeological investigations have been conducted in the general vicinity. During
his survey of the island of O‘ahu during the 1930s, J. Gilbert McAllister recorded
several heiau along the slopes of Diamond Head [12].
• Site 58 Papaenaena was located on the Honolulu side of Leahi (Diamond
Head).
• Site 59 Pahu-a-Maui, according to Thrum is the name of a heiau which
was located at the site of the lighthouse at Leahi.
McAllister also mentions threetwo heiau, Kapua and Kupalaha and Makahuna,
he says were listed by Thomas G. Thrum in his collections of stories in Thrum’s
Hawaiian Annual. Kapua, a heiau po‘okanaka, was said to be located near
Kapi‘olani Park and was torn down in 1860. The heiau was said to be were a
chief named Kaolohaka was sacrificed [12:78].
Kapua heiau is also mentioned by Kawaharada [9] in a story of a pig farmer
named Pumaia. In this version, Kūali‘i, king of O‘ahu at the time, was building
1 Aquamarine
was the name of Dole’s beach house [2]
1.2
Background Research
5
Kapua heiau, “east of Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head) overlooking Māmala Bay”. Kūali‘i
ordered pigs from Pumaia for the heiau, and took all of his pigs, except for
Pumaia’s favorite pig. When Kūali‘i attempted to take this pig also, Pumaia
fought against Kūali‘i’s warriors and after several battles killed all of them.
Kūali‘i called upon his god, Kānemuka to capture Pumaia who was “immediately
killed and dragged to Kapua, where his dead body was thrown into a pit with the
men he had killed”[9:33–34]. Tomonari-Tuggle and Blankfein [18] suggests that
Kapua heiau lies in the land of the same name at the western base of Diamond
Head.
Kupalaha heiau is described by Thrum as “ Kapiolani Park near Cunha’s2 .
Entirely obliterated. Class unknown, but said to have had connection in its
workings with Papaenaena”. McAllister was unable at the time to gather any
additional information on the location of these heiau[12]. Information gathered
by ? ] locates Kupalaha heiau “on or adjacent to Kalākakua Ave., just southeast
of the intersection with Monsarrat Ave” [? ].
Makahuna heiau
“. . . overlooking “Aqua Marine.” Thrum writes: “ A large heiau
enclosure dedicated to Kane and Kaneloa, of Kuula character, so
said.” Tucker reports: “ Opposite the residence of the Honorable
Sanford B. Dole. The ruins of a heiau of the Pookanaka class. Was
located at this place in order to propitiate, by human sacfifice, the
departure of the Aliis to foreign shores, and Black Point, between
that and Kahala, was called Keala o Kahiki [the way to Tahiti].
These ruins are mostly all overgrown ad have been used probably to
make fences or for road purposes. A dense growth of lantana and
kiawe, scrub kiawe, covers the ruins” McALLISTER :196
The most notable heiau in the area was Papaenaena which was described by
several early voyagers including one of the first descriptions by Tyerman and
Bennett who describe an account relayed to them.
In the year 1804, when the late king, Tamehameha, was on his
way from Hawaii, to invade Tauai, he halted with an army of eight
thousand men at Oahu. The yellow fever broke out among the troops,
and in the course of a few days swept away more than two-thirds of
them. During the plague, the king repaired to the great marae at
Wytiti, to conciliate the god, whom he supposed to be angry. . . [12:71]
According to Kamakau [8]:144 Papaenaena was one of the many heiau
po‘okanaka of Waikiki, along with Mau‘oki and Kupalaha. McAllister [12] cites
several descriptions of Papaenaena (also called Leahi heiau by some of the early
voyagers). In these descriptions, the lenght of the heiau varies from 60 feet to
200 feet and the width ranges from 40 feet to 100 feet. From the accounts the
heiau could be described as a “quadrangular paved terrace, with walls on three
2 Surfing area named for the Emmanuel S. Cunha estate near Kapahulu and Kalākaua
Avenues [16]
6
1
INTRODUCTION
sides, but open on the west side, which faced the village of Waikiki and the sea.
This side was approached by a series of step-like terraces”[12:74].
Since McAllister, only a few archaeological investigations have occurred in
the Diamond Head area. In 1968, the Bishop Museum excavated two test pits at
the supposed site of Papa‘enaena heiau. No evidence of the heiau was found [18].
In 1988 McMahon [13] conducted a reconnaissance survey of a 19 acres parcel
for a proposed tennis courts on the northeast slope of Diamond Head crater.
Remnants of Fort Ruger Military Reservation were the only historic properties
found.
[? ] conducted archaeologial monitoring during construction associated with
the replacement of a 12-inch water mai alonbg Diamond Head Road. No cultural
material as found. Bordner suggests that the heiau of the area were ritually
linked and that “the lack of other material culture indicators suggests that 1) this
section of Diamond Head was not heavily utilized for other cultural activity, such
as haibitation or food productio, possibly due to the e strong conncetration of
high mana structures at Diamond Head; or 2) the amount of historic disturbance
in road, waterline and house constrution has erased the archaeologial record of
past use of this portion of Diamond Head” [? :9].
In 1993 Mullins et al. [14] conducted archaeological monitoring for a new
sewage system at the Diamond Head Lighthouse, ca. 0.37 mile east of the project
site. No pre-contact remains were found. Evidence of cut and fill terracing of
the property and a few artifacts dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s
were found from the stratigraphic layers associated with the landscaping of the
lighthouse property.
In 1998 [18] conducted historical research and an archaeological reconnaissance survey of the Diamond Head State Monument. No evidence of pre-contact
remains or human burials were found. Thrity-five 20th century sites were identified during the survey, all of which were related to the development of Fort
Ruger.
In September 2002, human remains were inadvertently discovered during
excavations of a sewer line trench within a residential parcel ca. 0.16 mi. to the
west of the current project site. Two sets of human remains were documented
within sand deposits at a depth between 70–145 cm below surface (State Site
50–80–14–6428) [6]. The lack of non traditional artifacts and the burial position
suggested that at least one set of remains, an adult female, is possibly of precontact in origin. The second burial consisted of the previously disturbed remains
of a subadult. This burial was located in close proximity to the adult female
and it was postulated that there may be a familial association.
Several properties listed on the State and National Register are located in
the general vicinity of the project area (table 1). However, no historic properties
have been recorded for the subject parcel.
Several other residences are listed in the State and National Register in the
Honolulu English Tudor/ French Norman Cottages, thematic group (50–80–14–
1373). Most of these residences are located in the neighbor hood along Kalakaua
Avenue, Kiele Avenue, and Coconut Avenue ca. 0.25 mi to the west.
7
Table 1. Historic Properties Listed on the State and/or National Register of
Historic Places in the Diamond Head area
State No.
50–80–14–9701
50–80–14–1338
50–80–14–1350
50–80–14–9758
50–80–14–9744
50–80–14–9838
50–80–14–9772
50–80–14–1363
2
Name
National/State Register
Approximate
distance
from
parcel
War Memorial Natatorium
Diamond Head Lighthouse
Fort Ruger Historic District
Kapi‘olani Park
John & Kate Kelly Residence
Haumalu/Gerbode Estate
Egholm Residence
C. W. Dickey House
National/State
0.6 mi.
National
0.38 mi.
National/State
0.3 mi.
State
National/State
0.35 mi.
1.4 mi.
State
State
National/State
0.16 mi.
0.25 mi.
0.25 mi.
Archaeological Implications
The project parcel lies within the traditional land area known as Kaluahole,
an area known for its traditional ties to the sea and to its various gods. The
western slopes of Le‘ahi (Diamond Head) and the plain of Kapua was known for
the prominent heiau located there. Pahua heaiu Archaeological investigations
conducted in and around Diamond Head have not located pre-contact sites, other
than human remains found in the sand deposits located in the western portion
of Kaluahole. Previous investigations and archival research suggest thtat this is
little likelihood of finding pre-contact sites within or along the crater slopes.
A view of the project site shows that the parcel has been cleared of buildings
and the surface has been cleared and graded.
3
Discussion and Conclusions
A review of the archaeological literature and historic maps shows that the project
site has been the site of dwellings and buildings since at least the late 1920s. A
recent GoogleEarth image shows two structures on the parcel, and a recent site
inspection revealed that these structures have been demolished.
Glossary
Entries for Hawaiian words are excerpted or paraphrased, where possible, from
the Hawaiian Dictionary [15], or from Lucas [10].
ahupua‘a Traditional Hawaiian land division usually extending from the uplands to the sea.
8
BIBLIOGRAPHY
heiau Traditional Hawaiian place of worship.
makai Seaward.
mauka Inland, upland, toward the mountain.
Bibliography
[1] Beckwith, M. (1970). Hawaiian Mythology. Honolulu: University of Hawaii
Press.
[] Bordner, R. (1990, January). Archaeological Monitoring of Diamond Head
Road 12-inch Main Replacement. Prepared for Honolulu Board of Water
Supply. Honolulu: Social Research Systems Co-op.
[2] Dole, S. B. (1914, December). Aquamarine. Paradise of the Pacific 28 (12),
41–44.
[3] Foote, D. E., E. L. Hill, S. Nakamura, and F. Stephens (1972). Soil Survey
of the Islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, State of Hawaii.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service
in cooperation with the University of Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station.
[4] Giambelluca, T. W. and T. A. Schroeder (1998). Climate. In S. P. Juvik
and J. O. Juvik (Eds.), Atlas of Hawai‘i (Third ed.)., pp. 49–59. Honolulu:
University of Hawaii Press.
[] Hammatt, H. H. and R. Chiogioji (2002, June). Archaeological Monitoring
Plan for a 12-Inch Water Line Installation Project (Job 02–020, Part II)
Along a Portion of Kalākaua Avenue from Monsarrat Avenue to Poni Moi
Road, Waikı̄kı̄, Island of O‘ahu. Prepared for Board of Water Supply. Kailua,
HI: Cultural Surveys Hawaii.
[5] Handy, E. S. C. and E. G. Handy (1972). Native Planters in Old Hawaii:
Their Life, Lore, and Environment. Number 233 in B. P. Bishop Museum
Bulletin. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press. With the collaboration of Mary
Kawena Pukui.
[6] Ikehara-Quebral, R. (2002, October). Archaeological Burial Recovery and
Monitoring at 3101 Diamond Head Road (TMK: 3–1–036:008), Honolulu,
Hawai‘i. Prepared for Dr. and Mrs. Moon Soo Park. Honolulu: International
Archaeological Research Institute.
[7] Kamakau, S. M. (1964). Ka Po‘e Kahiko: The People of Old. Number 51 in
B. P. Bishop Museum Special Publication. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.
[8] Kamakau, S. M. (1976). The Works of the People of Old: Na Hana a ka Po‘e
Kahiko. Number 61 in B. P. Bishop Museum Special Publication. Honolulu:
Bishop Museum Press. Translated from the Newspaper Ke Au ‘Oko‘a by
Mary Kawena Pukui. Arranged and edited by Dorothy B. Barrère.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
9
[9] Kawaharada, D. (1996). Ancient O‘ahu: Stories from Fornander & Thrum.
Honolulu: Lalamakū Press.
[10] Lucas, P. F. N. (1995). A Dictionary of Hawaiian Legal Land-Terms.
Honolulu: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and University of Hawai‘i
Committeee for the Preservation and Study of Hawaiian Language, Art and
Culture.
[11] Macdonald, G. A. and A. T. Abbott (1970). Volcanoes in the Sea: The
Geology of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
[12] McAllister, J. G. (1933). Archaeology of Oahu. Number 104 in B. P. Bishop
Museum Bulletin. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.
[13] McMahon, N. (1988, February). Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of
the Proposed Diamond Head Tennis Court, Honolulu, Oahu Island, Hawaii
(TMK:3–1–42:21). Prepared for Environmental Communications, Inc. Honolulu: Public Archaeology Section, Applied Research Group, B. P. Bishop
Museum.
[14] Mullins, S., K. Flood, and B. Dixon (1993, April). Archaeological Monitoring of Sewage System Construction for the Diamond Head Lighthouse
Property, State Site 50-80-14-1338, Palolo Ahupua‘a, Kona District, Island of
Oahu, Hawai‘i. Prepared for DMA Contracting Inc. Honolulu: Anthropology
Department, B. P. Bishop Museum.
[15] Pukui, M. K. and S. H. Elbert (1971). Hawaiian Dictionary (Third ed.).
Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
[16] Pukui, M. K., S. H. Elbert, and E. T. Mookini (1974). Place Names of
Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
[17] Seiden, A. (2002). Diamond Head, Hawai‘i’s Icon. Honolulu: Mutual
Publishing.
[18] Tomonari-Tuggle, M. and R. Blankfein (1998, July). Exploring a Backdrop
to Waikīkī’s Past: Historic Research and Archaeological Assessment of Diamond Head State Monument, O‘ahu. Prepared for PBR Hawaii. Honolulu:
International Archaeological Research Institute.