March 11, 2008

“Names are an important key to what a society values. Anthropologists recognize naming as ‘one of the chief methods for imposing order on perception.’” – David S. Slawson

Names can change things.

They can act like a prediction or a blessing or a way to open doors or something to hide behind.
Names have always been very important in the Hawaiian culture – think of all the traditions and stories behind Hawaiian names of places and people and things, and of those intricate, powerful genealogy chants. Every place on this island must have a name, even though we may not know what it is.
We received the following letter about a place name that I mentioned in last issue’s editorial.
– Jan Welda

Aloha Haleakala Times Staff,
Thanks for the beautiful wiliwili picture from  Wailea 670 on your front page last issue. One small clarification on the Open Space editorial on the Wailea 670 development, the part that referred to the "area being originally called Honua‘ula."

According to many old maps and various historic researchers, such as Elspeth Sterling, Honua‘ula is a name that referred to an entire moku, or district of Southeast Maui. The moku of Honua‘ula included the lands roughly south of today’s Kihei boat ramp all the way to Kanaloa point in Kahikinui, and went inland as far as the ridges of Haleakala. The entire island of Kaho‘olawe was also part of the moku of Honua‘ula.

So it would be more accurate to say that the 670 acres of lands proposed to be developed are a very small part of the district that was once known as Honua‘ula. One hundred years ago, these lands were part of ‘Ulupalakua Ranch. Sixty years ago they were used for a bombing range and war games as part of the Kamaole Training Range. Over the last twenty years, Wailea 670 was called “Makena 700,” then “Wailea Ranch,” then “Wailea 670”. Now it is being referred to as “Honua‘ula.”

It has been through four sets of investment partnerships since 1986, and each seemed to see the need to change the name.

This 670 acres... was once part of the land holdings of high born ali‘i... Their descendants have come to hearings to testify that the current investors do not have unbroken title... some names and land claims have disappeared from the records, but evidence of their lives can still be seen on the land, at least for now.

...Current plans protect a only a small fragment of native plant habitat. The developer’s maps show only a few cultural sites that will be kept, mostly as landscape features for a luxury home or golf course.

Can we do better for one of our few remaining heritage sites? YES WE CAN! Let the County Council know that their “conditions” of development have not answered your concerns... The discussion is not over.

– Angie Hofmann, Haiku