Below is a mo'olelo shared by Mark Kahalekulu, who was also interviewed for the oral history research. In it, Kahalekulu shares his recollections and knowledge about the limu resources in the 1980s at One'ula, 'Ewa.
Thelma Genevieve Parish, a.k.a. Sister Parish, was born in 1918. She descended from prominent families in the history of Hawai‘i, and shared generational ties to the ‘ili of Pu‘uloa in Honouliuli Ahupua‘a. She was educated as an anthropologist, and became a Catholic nun serving for 50 years as a teacher and school administrator with the Order of Sacred Hearts. Sister Parish was a lifelong student of history and until her passing in 2004, she was working on a manuscript of Hawaiian history. Unfortunately her work has been left incomplete.
Six members of the Shibuya-Dayanan family gathered together for a small family reunion at Kualaka‘i-White Plains Beach in September 2012. Barbara Shibuya, one of the younger members of the family, coordinated the opportunity for the interview to take place. While a 33-year difference in ages between the eldest interviewee (born 1933) to the youngest (born 1966) existed, the interviewees shared strong familial connections, and memories with elders who have now passed on.
Harry Alama was born in 1958, and began coming to ‘Ewa Beach with his family in the mid-1960s. Harry’s family secured leases on three lots from the Dowsett-Parish family and built homes along the ‘Ewa Beach coast in the late 1930s, early 1940s. When the war broke out they were unable to return to the shore, but after the war, they settled back in. In the early 1960s, development was coming to ‘Ewa Beach and the family decided to give up some of the leases—those are the lands that were later associated with Ted Farm and family.
The following is a hali‘a aloha of Honouliuli written by Mark Kahalekulu. The narrative is dated August 29, 2012 and is entitled “Diving the Three Stones, ‘One‘ula Beach.” It is written as notes to mo‘opuna, and contains important background on ocean resources. Mark ‘Ehukai Kahalekulu kindly granted permission to Kepā Maly on April 25, 2014 to share this one of several hali‘a aloha.
Mark ‘Ehukai Kwock Sun Yoshio Kahalekulu was born in 1956 along the Honouliuli coast, at ‘Ewa Beach. His kupuna father worked for the Dowsett-Parish Ranch on the Pu‘uloa lands, and lived at various locations between Pu‘uloa, One‘ula, and Kualaka‘i. The Kahalekulu line originated in the Ho‘okena-Ho‘opūloa Region of South Kona, and were displaced by the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption. Mark’s entire young life from toddler through high school was connected to the ocean and nearshore lands of the Honouliuli Ahupua‘a.
The records of the Māhele ‘Āina are a significant source of firsthand accounts from native tenants of Honouliuli whose residency generally spanned the period from ca. 1800 to 1855. The records describe native Hawaiian residency and land use practices. They identify specific residents, types of land use, fishery and fishing rights, crops cultivated, and features on the landscape.
The following public notice indicates that the named lands of Honouliuli are private and advises against trespassing on them. It implies that ranching activities are occurring in the area.
All persons are hereby cautioned against trespassing on the lands called Poupouwela, Kapa Aina Kalo, Pauhi, and Oneula, situated in the Ahupuaa of Honouliuli, Island of Oahu, and will take notice that if they trespass on either said lands, by running cattle, horses or other stock thereon or in any otherwise, that they will be prosecuted to the extent of the law.
The following notice declares that places in Honouliuli named below are private and only livestock belonging to designated individuals are allowed to enter.
Olelo Hoolaha
One of the native Hawaiian informants who recorded her recollections of the Honouliuli area was Hawaiian ethnographer and Bishop Museum employee Mary Kawena Pukui. Pukui shared her personal experience with the ghosts on the plain of Kaupe‘a around 1910:
