Ka’u: Historical & Ecological Perspectives

How has the environment shaped human events?

Geological StagesGeological Stages

Ancient older domes which can still be Ancient older domes which can still be seen at the north end of the island and seen at the north end of the island and form the slopes of Kohala and hills of form the slopes of Kohala and hills of PahalaPahala

“ “Makanau and Pu’u ‘Enuhe” from which Makanau and Pu’u ‘Enuhe” from which flowed the basalt found beneath the deep flowed the basalt found beneath the deep soil at Kamao’a and Ka Laesoil at Kamao’a and Ka Lae

Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa which rise Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa which rise over 13,000 feet above sea levelover 13,000 feet above sea level

The soil is almost entirely ash or pumice The soil is almost entirely ash or pumice dust from Mauna Kea laid on drifted dune dust from Mauna Kea laid on drifted dune sands and basalt.sands and basalt.

Fertile soils that support diverse Fertile soils that support diverse ecosystem and later cultivated cropsecosystem and later cultivated crops

Original Flora/ClimateOriginal Flora/Climate

Endemic flora provided continuous cover of Endemic flora provided continuous cover of forest and brush between spots of prairie forest and brush between spots of prairie where grasses grewwhere grasses grew

Good rainfall from winter storms, mist and dewGood rainfall from winter storms, mist and dew Winds off the ocean over flank of mountains in Winds off the ocean over flank of mountains in

trade wind season (March-November)trade wind season (March-November) Cold mist laden breeze from snow covered Cold mist laden breeze from snow covered

Mauna Loa (125 years ago snow covered ML Mauna Loa (125 years ago snow covered ML through July!)through July!)

Underground WaterUnderground Water

Percolation into and from lava tubes Percolation into and from lava tubes which fed springs like Wai-o-Akukini and which fed springs like Wai-o-Akukini and deep rock pools such as Wai-a-deep rock pools such as Wai-a-Palahemo near Ka Lae (South Point)Palahemo near Ka Lae (South Point)

Earthquakes and Eucalyptus trees have Earthquakes and Eucalyptus trees have changed these areaschanged these areas

Favorable Habitat Favorable Habitat

Fertile SoilFertile Soil Favorable ClimateFavorable Climate Water SupplyWater Supply Ko Kaha Kai (along shore) 8 endemic plantsKo Kaha Kai (along shore) 8 endemic plants Ko Kula Kai (on seaward slopes) 20 endemic Ko Kula Kai (on seaward slopes) 20 endemic

plantsplants Ko Kula Uka (on upland slopes) 23 endemic Ko Kula Uka (on upland slopes) 23 endemic

plantsplants Ka Wao (upland forest) 50 endemic plantsKa Wao (upland forest) 50 endemic plants

SettlementSettlement

Mary Kawena Pukui concludes that first Mary Kawena Pukui concludes that first settlement occurred three thousand years settlement occurred three thousand years ago with settlers from Kahiki (foreign land)ago with settlers from Kahiki (foreign land)

Earliest settlement at Manuka (western Earliest settlement at Manuka (western ahupua’a or district of Ka’uahupua’a or district of Ka’u

Adjacent areas of Kahuku and Pakani are Adjacent areas of Kahuku and Pakani are also know to have extensive cultivation also know to have extensive cultivation

Towards to east is the Kamao’a district Towards to east is the Kamao’a district where Pukui’s ohana originatedwhere Pukui’s ohana originated

Kauwa (outcasts later used for sacrifice) Kauwa (outcasts later used for sacrifice) kept in an area like a reservation near kept in an area like a reservation near Ninole.Ninole.

Possible descendents of conquered local Possible descendents of conquered local group who resisted colonizing ali’I duriing group who resisted colonizing ali’I duriing early settlement. early settlement.

First ContactFirst Contact

Punalu’uPunalu’u Ka’iliki’I west of Ka LaeKa’iliki’I west of Ka Lae Ka’alu’alu north east of Ka Lae Ka’alu’alu north east of Ka Lae All three open into the plains and valleys of All three open into the plains and valleys of

Kamao’a, Pakini and WaiohinuKamao’a, Pakini and Waiohinu Honu’apo landing gave favorable access Honu’apo landing gave favorable access

into Na’alehu and Waiohinuinto Na’alehu and Waiohinu All areas are plains, lower forested hills and All areas are plains, lower forested hills and

lush sheltered valleylush sheltered valley

Polynesian Plants/Livestock Polynesian Plants/Livestock Introduced Introduced

Taro, Sweet potato, yam, banana, Taro, Sweet potato, yam, banana, sugarcane, breadfruit, coconut, gourds, sugarcane, breadfruit, coconut, gourds, ti, kukui, pineapple, awa, bamboo, kou, ti, kukui, pineapple, awa, bamboo, kou, hibiscus, hala, milo, hau, olona and hibiscus, hala, milo, hau, olona and kamanikamani

Pig, edible dog, chickensPig, edible dog, chickens

Impact of SettlementImpact of Settlement

Pakani, Kamao’a and other areas were cleared Pakani, Kamao’a and other areas were cleared for cultivationfor cultivation

Koa trees used for canoes and utensilsKoa trees used for canoes and utensils In times of drought and famine fern tree cores, In times of drought and famine fern tree cores,

edible ferns, weeds and nuts gathered. Whole edible ferns, weeds and nuts gathered. Whole forests cleared in this manner.forests cleared in this manner.

Livestock eat plants, roots and all. Many areas Livestock eat plants, roots and all. Many areas cleared in this manner. Bird population also cleared in this manner. Bird population also reduced by both hunting and livestock.reduced by both hunting and livestock.

Fishing!Fishing!

The great current, Ke Au a Halali’I swept The great current, Ke Au a Halali’I swept southwest from Ka Laesouthwest from Ka Lae

The au moana (ocean flow) came together The au moana (ocean flow) came together east to west and pushed by tradewinds east to west and pushed by tradewinds created great areas for deep sea fishing;created great areas for deep sea fishing;

Ahi, aku, ‘a’u, ulua, mahimahi and opeluAhi, aku, ‘a’u, ulua, mahimahi and opelu Area lacked reefs and few coves for squid, Area lacked reefs and few coves for squid,

mullet, shellfish and limumullet, shellfish and limu

Destruction of Cultivated Destruction of Cultivated AreasAreas

Lava flows 1868, Lava flows 1868, 1881, 1926 and 19501881, 1926 and 1950

Ka’u and impact of Ka’u and impact of colonizationcolonization

1841 French Catholic Marechal had 900 1841 French Catholic Marechal had 900 converts in three monthsconverts in three months

1842 Presbyterian Rev Paris and settled 1842 Presbyterian Rev Paris and settled in Waiohinuin Waiohinu

““I was taken up by a great strong native I was taken up by a great strong native dressed in a malo and tattooed from dressed in a malo and tattooed from head to foot”head to foot”

Population ChangesPopulation Changes

1833 census listed 5-1833 census listed 5-6,000 residents of 6,000 residents of Ka’uKa’u

By 1866 the land was By 1866 the land was considered desolateconsidered desolate

How and why did this How and why did this happen?happen?

Conflict and Cultural Conflict and Cultural ChangesChanges

Kamehameha I conquered their native ali’i KeouaKamehameha I conquered their native ali’i Keoua

Ka’u Makaha (ka’u the fierce) was humiliated and Ka’u Makaha (ka’u the fierce) was humiliated and many despondentmany despondent

In 1820 Ka’ahumanu ordered the destruction of the In 1820 Ka’ahumanu ordered the destruction of the Ki’i and end to the ai’kapuKi’i and end to the ai’kapu

The abandonment of old cultural practices, its The abandonment of old cultural practices, its reciprocal duties and benefits, its fixed seasons for reciprocal duties and benefits, its fixed seasons for fishing, planting, harvesting, ceremonial and fishing, planting, harvesting, ceremonial and warfare had a devastating impact on the people.warfare had a devastating impact on the people.

Introduction of Introduction of Capitalism Capitalism

Under Kamehameha II new Under Kamehameha II new ali’i lines who sought luxury ali’i lines who sought luxury items were indifferent to the items were indifferent to the needs of the ohana that they needs of the ohana that they administered on the administered on the ahupua’aahupua’a

Demanded that everyone go Demanded that everyone go to harvest Sandlewood to to harvest Sandlewood to trade for needless luxury trade for needless luxury items and alcoholitems and alcohol

Fields and Fishponds Fields and Fishponds abandoned and many began abandoned and many began to starveto starve

Warfare with its rigorous Warfare with its rigorous disciplines ceaseddisciplines ceased

Lono no longer honored in Lono no longer honored in the great winter festival the great winter festival Makahiki (athletic Makahiki (athletic competition and dancing)competition and dancing)

Kapus ignored causing Kapus ignored causing depletion of resources depletion of resources (fishing etc)(fishing etc)

Venereal disease Venereal disease (sterility) and alcoholism (sterility) and alcoholism became problemsbecame problems

Measles, whooping Measles, whooping cough, fevers, TB cough, fevers, TB compounded physical compounded physical decline of population decline of population already weakened by already weakened by lack of food and healthy lack of food and healthy exerciseexercise

Christian ideas about Christian ideas about nudity led to wool clothes. nudity led to wool clothes. Heavy sweating followed Heavy sweating followed by chills. Many died!by chills. Many died!

By 1845 By 1845 depopulation depopulation reduced the number reduced the number of schools from 20 of schools from 20 down to 12down to 12

Natural Disasters Natural Disasters

1830-31 and 1846-47 wildfires destroy large 1830-31 and 1846-47 wildfires destroy large areas of settlement and cultivationareas of settlement and cultivation

1867 Drought and Famine1867 Drought and Famine 1868 Earthquakes and Tidal Waves destroy 1868 Earthquakes and Tidal Waves destroy

villages from Punalu’u to Ka’alu’aluvillages from Punalu’u to Ka’alu’alu Earth opened and swallowed homes, Earth opened and swallowed homes,

thousands of livestock and entire familiesthousands of livestock and entire families Lava Flows cover Wai-o-ahu-kiniLava Flows cover Wai-o-ahu-kini Most unable to recover from these events and Most unable to recover from these events and

relocaterelocate

Pulu Trade 1859-1885Pulu Trade 1859-1885 Rainforest of Mauna Loa Rainforest of Mauna Loa

depleted of hairy down (pulu) depleted of hairy down (pulu) which encases the stems and which encases the stems and the young opening fronds of the the young opening fronds of the tree fern.tree fern.

Pulu used to stuff mattress in Pulu used to stuff mattress in Honolulu and California Honolulu and California

Further abandonment of Further abandonment of cultivated areas to work cultivated areas to work gathering pulu. Continued gathering pulu. Continued starvationstarvation

The Great Mahele 1848 & The Great Mahele 1848 & The Rise of SugarThe Rise of Sugar

Land Division opened way for Land Division opened way for foreign ownership of land and foreign ownership of land and ushered in the sugar plantation era.ushered in the sugar plantation era.

1870 near Na’alehu 225 acres was 1870 near Na’alehu 225 acres was purchased by Alexander Hutchinson purchased by Alexander Hutchinson and John Costa which became the and John Costa which became the first sugar cane plantation in Ka’ufirst sugar cane plantation in Ka’u

By 1879 there were three mills in By 1879 there were three mills in operationoperation

Many immigrants recruited from Many immigrants recruited from China, Japan, Philippines, Puerto China, Japan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal and Korea to fill labor Rico, Portugal and Korea to fill labor demandsdemands

Population ChangePopulation Change

1872 1829/1865 were Native Hawaiian1872 1829/1865 were Native Hawaiian 1884 1543/3483 were Native Hawaiian1884 1543/3483 were Native Hawaiian

Works Cited:Works Cited:Mary Kawena PukuiMary Kawena Pukui