| Cultural Notes / Hawaiiana |
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Kapaeleele Koa (Kapa'ele'ele Ko'a, Hawaiian: "black cloth fishing shrine") is an ancient sacred altar used to pray for a bountiful catch of akule fish (Bigeye scad). (1) Keaniani Kilo (Hawaiian: "lookout to see sparkling") is one of two ancient fish-watching observation points on opposing ridges forking Kahana Bay. Which one was used depended on the angle of the sun which would "sparkle" off schools of fish. From here, the designated kilo i'a (fish watcher) signaled waiting fishermen in canoes by raising a white flag made from white kapa cloth out in the bay to surround the school spotted in the bay with nets. 1 - State of Hawaii, "Kapa'ele'ele Ko'a & Keaniani Kilo Trail" Brochure, Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of State Parks, 2002 The Ancient Lands According to Revised Laws of Hawaii of 1925, this trail resides in the Kahana ahupua'a which is in the southern tip of the Ko'olauloa Moku (land district).(2) 2 - Summers, Catherine C., "Koolauloa" Map (1959), Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1962. Studies suggest the larger "moku" and smaller "ahupuaa" are congruent to ancient land divisions used hundreds of years ago. See the "Hawaiiana" page for a discussion on district and ahupuaa boundaries. |