Forum

KUKANILOKO

The Living Legend

Science and Technology Center

Mililani High School

Hawaii Department of Education

Copyright(c)2001 Mililani High School

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...

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.

__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.

__History______

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.

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.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

__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

gravity-type 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 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.

__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 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.

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 that the gods recognized a child born here.

ASTRONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE

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 "Kane-Lono" 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.

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.

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?'"

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 gravity-type 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.

"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 Wahiawa."

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."

CHANTS OF KUKANILOKO

"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

No Kukaniloko ko'u aloha,

Ke kupa noho kula a o Kalakoa,

Kahi hanau hoi o na alii,

Wohi hoi a o Hawaii nei;

Walea i ke kui lei Ahihi,

Lei hookipa no ka malihini,

Paa mai uka i ka uhiwai;

O ke kehau anu ko ke kuahiwi;

Halihali mai ana i ke ala,

Ke ala o maile Nohoanu;

Auau aku i ka wai o Kuaikua

Wai hooheno a na alii;

Na mamo hoi a Kakuhihewa,

A na pua a ka Na'i Aupuni;

Nana i rula mai a pololei,

Me ka ihe laumeki i ka lima;

A he puuwai koa me ka wiwoole

Imi maluhia no ka lahui;

Hui pau ia mai na ailana,

Mai Hawaii a Niihau

Noho hoomalu ia me ke kaulike

Mamalahoa kanawai;

Hainaia mai ana ka puana,

No Kukaniloko ko'u aloha.

Song of Kukaniloko (translation)

For Kukaniloko is my love,

The native born that dwells on the plain of Kalakoa

Birth place indeed of the chiefs

Highest chiefs indeed of Hawaii here

Accustomed to stringing wreaths of ahihi

Wreath of entertainment for the stranger

Finished from upland in the heavy mist

The cold dew of the mountain

Bearing the fragrance

The fragrance of mana that dwells in the cold

Bathe in the water of Kuaikua

Cherished water of the chiefs

The descendants indeed of Kakuhihewa

The offspring of the Conqueror of the Realm

Who ruled wisely

With the barbed spear in the hand

And the brave heart with fearlessness

Seeking peace for the race.

All united are the islands

From Hawaii to Niihau

Swelling in peace with justice

Mamala Hoa is the law

Told is the refrain

For Kukaniloko is my love

This chant memorializes Kapawa, the first ali'i born at Kukaniloko.

Chant for Kapawa

'O Kapawa, 'o ke ali'i o Wai'alua

I hanau i Kukaniloko

'O Wahiawa ke kahua

'O Lihu'e ke ewe

'O Ka'ala ka piko

'O Kapukapuakea ka a'a

O Kaiaka i Maeaea

Ha'ulei i Nukea i Wainakia

I'A'aka i Haleu

I ka la'i malino o Hauola

Ke li'i 'o Kapawa ho'i no

Ho'i no i uka ka waihona

Ho'i no i ka pali kapu o na li'i

He kia'i Kalahiki no Kaka'e

'O Heleipawa ke keiki a Kapawa

He keiki ali'i no Wai'alua i O'ahu

Chant for Kapawa (translation)

Kapawa, the chief of Wai'alua,

Was born at Kukaniloko;

Wahiawa the site;

At Lihu'e the placenta,

At Ka'ala the navel cord,

At Kapukapuakea (Heiau) the caul,

(Heiau) of Kaiaka at Maeaea;

He died at Nukea at Wainakia

Through (the surf of) 'A'aka at Haleu,

Through the calm stillness of Hauola,

The chief Kapawa was taken,

Taken upland (in Iao) for laying away,

Taken to the sacred pali of the chiefs,

Kalahiki is the "Watchman" of Kaka'e,

Heleipawa was the son of Kapawa,

A chiefly child of Wai'alua, Oahu

DIRECTIONS TO KUKANILOKO

__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.

MAHALO

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