5.1 Final Project - Kaila Uyehara by Kaila Uyehara

Aha Moku System

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 05:47:29 UTC

On the islands of Hawai'i, they were each divided by the Aha Moku system. The land use and division of each section were determined by the accessibility of wai ola or life-giving water. This system is what gave the kanaka maoli self-sustainable lifestyles (Maui County Shoreline Access, n.d.).

Aha Moku Code

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 06:09:13 UTC

Along the shorelines of Maui is what is called the Aha Moku Code or Civil Code. The codes of conduct vary in the different regions however, the overall goal is to act "pono" or do what is right. Some of the rules include: cleaning up after your pet, keeping trash off-site, not climbing fences, not smoking, respecting others, and not removing shells, rocks, or coral from the beach (Maui County Shoreline Access, n.d.).

Copies of Land Commission Awards

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 06:29:35 UTC

This is one of the early copies of a map that shows the portion of Apana to Naiwimawaho. It indicates how the ahupua'a were separated and where the sea and government roads are. The share of this portion for the ahupua'a is 23,794 square feet. (Fleming, 1905).

Ka'anapali Coast

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 06:43:52 UTC

The Ka'anapali Coast is one of Maui's many historic landmarks. Over the centuries, Polynesian voyagers would sail from the islands to settle along the shorelines bringing new traditions, customs, and beliefs to the island and people of Maui (Ka'anapali Coffee Farms, n.d.).

Life on Maui

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 06:58:23 UTC

Life on Maui including Lahaina and Ka'anapali areas, the people followed the blueprint that originated from other islands. The land was divided for agricultural and also political purposes. These land divisions were in the shape of wedges that went from the mountains to the sea (Ka'anapali Coffee Farms, n.d.). Within these ahupua'a, the forests were used for timber, the land for farming, and rivers and oceans for fish.

Traditional Land Divisions

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:01:49 UTC

There are a total of 12 land divisions or moku on the island of Maui. Each moku was divided into different ahupua'a and used for different purposes (Maui Nui ahupua'a project, n.d.).

The Lahaina Banyan Tree

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:11:03 UTC

Right in the center of the courthouse square in the Lahaina district is another one of Maui's most significant landmarks, the Banyan tree. This tree is a quarter of a mile long, 60 feet tall, and has an intricate and vast network of branches. Residents of Maui have helped to maintain the growth of the tree by placing hanging glass jars filled with water surrounding its roots. The Banyan tree now has 46 trunks in addition to the main one in the middle. (Lahaina Restoration, n.d.)

Maui Chiefs

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:15:52 UTC

Maui has a history of strong and powerful rulers. Chief Kekaulike, Chief Kamehamehanui, and Chief Kahekili all devoted their reign to uniting the islands. Lahaina and Ka'anapali allied their warriors with those on O'ahu as well.

Patrick Kirch's Findings

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:31:02 UTC

Archaeologist, Patrick Kirch, studied the region Kahikinui on the island of Maui as a case study. In this study, he spent his time trying to understand the peripheral areas in this area and why they were significant to the kanaka maoli or Native Hawaiians. Through his findings, he was able to understand traditional Hawaiian living and how they functioned as a society. (Watson-Sproat, 2015)

Pioneer Mill & Economy Growth

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:36:55 UTC

In the Lahaina and Ka'anapali region, the Pioneer Mill was created and jumpstarted the economy. In 1860, the first mill was invented by James Campbell and others began to follow. Before people knew it, there was a whole plantation factory producing 45,000 tons of sugar each year. These plantations then provided many resources, jobs, and an abundance of money for the people (Ka'anapali Coffee Farms, n.d. & Youtube, Lahaina history, 2021).

The Lahaina Fire August 8, 2023

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 07:51:06 UTC

On August 8, 2023, a catastrophe hit the Lahaina district of Maui. An uncontrollable, enormous fire started and destroyed 3000 structures and left over 4000 residents in need of a home, job, and resources. This catastrophe is said to be the result of mismanagement of the water which has been driven by foreign colonization. There is a lot of healing and work to be done in the city of Lahaina yet the government has not done much to aid this recovery. (Taparra et al., 2023).

Residents of Maui Fight Against Reopening Tourism

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 09:31:44 UTC

A press release of Maui fire survivors explains in this video that it is too early for them to reopen tourism on the West side of Maui. It is a heartbreaking notion to learn that the governor of Maui did not include the people of Maui in this conversation and decided to open it up without any collaborative discussion. This is yet another way that foreigners don’t let the Hawaiians and Indigenous people speak and make the decisions that are best for the people (Maui Strong, 2023).

Sources

kailauyehara1 — 2023-11-28 09:35:01 UTC

A brief history of the lahaina banyan tree - hawaii ocean project: Maui whale watching tours:

Dinner cruises. Hawaii Ocean Project | Maui Whale Watching Tours | Dinner Cruises.

(2022, June 16).

https://hawaiioceanproject.com/a-brief-history-of-the-lahaina-banyan-tree/

Aha Moku. Aha Moku | Maui County Shoreline Access, HI. (n.d.).

https://www.mauishorelineaccess.net/31/Aha-Moku

Bordner, R. (1995). Contested Images of Place in a Multicultural Context: The Ahupuaʻa of

Kanaio and Aʻuahi, Maui. [Honolulu] : [University of Hawaii at Manoa], [May 1995].

Dobbyn, P. (2023, September 15). Race underway to glue down the Lahaina Fire’s toxic ash before rains wash it into the Ocean. Honolulu Civil Beat. https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/08/race-underway-to-glue-down-the-lahaina-fires-toxic-ash-before-rains-wash-it-into-the-ocean/

Fleming, D. T. (1905). Book 1: Copies of Land Commission Awards, Honolua to Kahana,

inclusive, Ka’anapali, Maui.

GISGeography. (2023, October 15). Map of Maui Island, Hawaii. GIS Geography.

https://gisgeography.com/maui-map-hawaii/

History & culture. Ka’anapali Coffee Farms. (n.d.). https://www.kaanapalicoffeefarms.com/hawaii-history-culture#:~:text=Thriving%20Hawaiian%20Community,and%20beliefs%20of%20their%20homeland.

Kula Kai. Maui Nui Ahupua’a Project. (n.d.). https://www.mauinuiahupuaaproject.com/kula-kai

THE LAHAINA BANYAN TREE: HOW IT CAME TO BE. Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

(2023, May 5). https://lahainarestoration.org/lahaina-banyan-tree/

YouTube. (2021, September 11). Lahaina history: Modern Era. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AiA6ov2Y0o

YouTube. (2023b, October 3). Maui strong presents 10K signatures to gov. green to stop

West Maui tourism reopen. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms947J4Vj4o