A Journey Around the Island of Hawai`i
Written: Nov 05 '01 (Updated Apr 05 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Island of Hawai`i has a lot of variety and many communities.
Cons: Many people find the place-names a real challenge!
The Bottom Line: Take a trip around my island and enjoy the fantastic variety! I rated it as best for students because we ALL should keep learning!
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| hularider's Full Review: Island of Hawaii |
Today, let's take an imaginary journey around the Island of Hawai`i. First, to orient ourselves, an overview. An excellent visual aid is the Bier map published by the University of Hawai`i Press.
First, a little about how to explain where we are:
This Island has been called Hawai`i for several hundred years. Capt. James Cook dubbed the chain "The Sandwich Islands" in honor of the Earl of Sandwich, who was primarily responsible for funding the expedition which got him here.
Pai`ea Kamehameha, (known to the western world as Kamehameha I, or Kamehameha the Great) after creating one kingdom from the chain, named his new kingdom "Hawai`i," after his home island.
During the Territorial era, when tourism began to seriously grow, people began calling this "the Big Island" to differentiate it from the state. My grandparents always hated the term, my grandmother called it "vulgar."
Around the 1960s, when orchids became a major export item, the Hawai`i Visitor's Bureau or the Chamber of Commerce called us the "the Orchid Isle," and many locals preferred that, as it was prettier sounding than "Big Island." "Volcano Isle" was another name the HVB came up with. But now that we are struggling so hard to regain our traditions and culture, we are trying to bring back the historic HAWAIIAN names of many places.
Today, we are returning to calling the entire island chain "Hawai`i Nei," (Huh-vai-ee-nay) which means "Beloved Hawai`i," and we are returning to calling the Island of Hawai`i "Moku Hawai`i," which means "Hawai`i Island."
"Hawai`i Ne`i" (Hawai`i right here)refers to the island when one is actually on it. So, if you are traveling to O`ahu, when you are there, you can say O`ahu ne`i."
Proper use of the traditional names is an important part of retaining our heritage.
The Island of Hawai`i comprises six districts, each of which by ancient tradition encompasses resources of the shore, plains, and mountains. These districts are: Kona (KOH-nuh), Kohala (koh-HAH-lah), Hamakua (haa-maa-KOO-ah), Hilo (HEE-loh), Puna (POO-nah), and Ka`u (kah-OOH). In ancient times, the districts were each ruled over by their own chiefs.
There is quite a bit of confusion, even among some residents, over the name "Kona." When used as a placename, it means "leeward." Kona is approximately 1,200 square miles, and within its boundaries are about a dozen villages.
The main town of Kona is properly called Kailua (kah-ee LOOH-ah). And the bay is Kailua Bay. There are several places in the Hawaiian Archipelago named "Kailua," the most famous of which is the Kailua on the island of O`ahu (oh AH-hooh), so people call our Kailua "Kailua-Kona." Kailua is a compound word, a contraction of "kai" (ocean) and "elua" (two). Thus, Kai-elua, which refers to the two main currents which swirl through Kailua Bay.
Other notable communities in Kona are Holualoa (hoh-looh-ah-HOH-ah) - today noted for its artists; Kealakekua (kay-ah-lah kay KOOH-ah); Captain Cook; and Ho`okena (Hoh-oh-KEH-nah). Kona is fortunate to have two National Historical Parks, Pu`uhonua o Honaunau (pooh-oo-hoh-NOOH-ah oh hoh-nah-oo-NAH-oo) in South Kona and Kaloko-Honokohau (kah-LOH-koh hoh-noh-KOH-how) in North Kona.
If we travel North from Kailua, we will arrive at Anaeho`omalu (ah-nah-ay-hoh-oh-MAH-loo), Kona's northern boundary. From there we cross over into the district of Kohala. There are about a half dozen villages in Kohala, with the area and paniola (cowboy) town of Waimea (vah-ee-MAY-ah) being the largest. Waimea town is also often called Kamuela (kah-moo-EL-ah), because there are many places in the islands known as Waimea, and before zip-codes were invented, to tell the places apart - so the story goes - the post offices were known by the name of their postmaster. The postmaster at Waimea was named "Samuel," which in Hawaiian is "Kamuela."
The development of Waikoloa (vai-koh-LOW-ah) is second in size. Kawaihae's (kah-wai-HAH-ee) harbor sees a great deal of use. Hawi (hah-VEE) and Kapa`au (kah-pah-AH-oo) are noted for being enclaves of artists. Kohala has its own National Historical Site, Pu`u Kohola (pooh-ooh koh-hoh-LAH), the site of the last temple of human sacrifice built in the Hawaiian Islands.
The road swings East to the district of Hamakua (haah-maah-KOO-ah), largest town of which is Honoka`a (hoh-no-KAH-ah). A trip into Honoka`a with a left hand turn heads one back east toward the village of Kukuihaele (kooh-kooh-ee hah-EH-lay) and Waipi`o (vai-PEE-oh) Valley, where Pai`ea Kamehameha was reared. Heading east again are several villages, including famous Laupahoehoe (lah-ooh-paah-HOAY-hoay). The district of Hamakua is the home of Kamapua`a (kah-mah-pooh-AH-ah), the pig/man demigod who courted Pele (PEH-leh), the volcano goddess. It is out of respect for Kamapua`a that people avoid taking pork and pork products over the Saddle Road, a section of which passes through Hamâkua.
The district of Hilo (HEE-loh) shares its name with Hawai`i Island's political seat - Hilo Town. Honomu (hoh-noh-MOO), Pepe`ekeo (peh-peh-eh-KAY-oh), Onomea (oh-noh-MAY-ah), Papa`ikou (PAH-pah-ee-koh-oo), Wainaku (vai-nah-KOOH), and Kaumana (kah-ooh-MAH-nah) are among the many communities of Hilo. The town of Hilo is the rainiest in the United States, and the District of Hilo is home to the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States.
Traveling more or less South along the Mamalahoa (mah-maah-la-HOH-ah) Highway, which encircles the island, one arrives in the district of Puna (POOH-nah). The fastest growing town in Puna is Kea`au (kay-ah-AH-ow). Pahoa (paah-HOH-ah) and Mt. View also are noteworthy towns of Puna, and the district also is famous for its orchid nursuries.
Continuing South, one arrives in the district of Ka`u (kah-OOH). The largest town in Ka`u is Na`alehu (nah-ah-LEH-hoo) - the Southernmost town in the United States. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmens) spent much time there. The district also is home to Kilauea (kee-laow-AY-ah), the world's most active volcano. Ka Lae (kuh LAH-ay), also known as South Point, is the southernmost point in the United States. Rounding the point and heading north, one soon reaches Manuka (mah-nooh-KAH) Natural Area Reserve, on the Ka`u/Kona border, completing the circuit of the island.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Students
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
hularider
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Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 69
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
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