About Ahupua'a

SOS Embraces Native Hawaiian Culture

ABOUT AHUPUA'A
In ancient Hawaiian times, the konohiki, or caretakers, managed a section of land from the mountains to the sea, referred to as the "Ahupua'a." This wise conservation system prevented exploitation, pollution, and extinction of plants, animals, and marine species while allowing the people to take what they needed for sustenance. The following excerpt from the Kamehameha Schools publication, "The Ahupua'a," elaborates.

No Na Ahupua'a

I 'aina no Ka 'aina i ke ali'i, a i waiwai no ka 'aina i ke kanaka..

The land remains the land because of the chiefs, and prosperity comes to the land because of the common people.

In the time of 'Umi, son of the great chief Liloa, the Hawaiian islands were divided into political regions. The four mokupuni (larger islands) of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i were divided into moku (districts). The smaller islands of Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe became moku of Maui and Ni'ihau a moku of Kaua'i. For ease in collecting annual tribute the moku were subdivided into ahupua'a, land sections that usually extended from the mountain summits down through fertile valleys to the outer edge of the reef in the sea.

Ahupua'a were often entire valleys, with the ridges between serving as boundaries. They varied in size on different islands from as little as 100 acres to more than 100,000 acres. Ahupua'a were often divided into areas called 'ili: some a single tract, some divided, and some divided and crossing ahupua'a boundaries. Areas of 'ili separated from the main part of an 'ili but considered part of it were called 'ili lele. An ali'i nui (high chief) ruled the mokupuni He appointed an ali'i 'ai moku (lower chief) to rule each moku. The ali'i 'ai moku chose a chief of lesser rank, an ali'i 'ai ahupua'a, to rule the ahupua'a. Often the ali'i 'ai ahupua'a was not a resident of the ahupua'a when selected and the title was not hereditary. Sometimes the ali'i 'ai ahupua'a also served as the konohiki (headman) and ran the day-to-day operations of the ahupua'a. The konohiki managed land use, assisted by luna who were experts in different specialties. For example, the luna wai was in charge of water for the lo'i (irrigated terraces) and another luna was in charge of land boundaries within the ahupua'a. Each ahupua'a also had its own master fisherman and master farmer.

Ahupua'a contained nearly all the resources Hawaiians required for survival. Fresh water resources were managed carefully for drinking, bathing, and irrigation. Wild and cultivated plants provided food, clothing, household goods, canoes, weapons, and countless other useful products. Many land and sea creatures utilized for food also provided bones, teeth, skin, and feathers for tools, crafts, and ornamentation. The name ahupua'a is derived from ahu, an altar of stones, upon which was placed an image of the head of a pua'a, pig. The head was carved from kukui wood and was painted red-brown with 'alaea (ocherous earth). These altars marked the boundaries between ahupua'a and served as rallying areas for the collection of tribute.

In preparation for the four month long makahiki (annual harvest festival), ahu were built or rebuilt near the point where the around the island footpath led into each ahupua'a. The kahuna responsible for collecting tribute and his retinue walked around the island with the ocean on their left and the mountainous center of the island on their right. They carried images of gods, including the Long God known as Lonoikamakahiki. When the procession reached the ahu of Lono, two alia (poles) of kauila or mamane wood were placed near the ahu. The makahiki image was held upright behind the alia and ho'okupu (gifts) such as food, kapa, lau hala mats, nets, bowls, and other offerings to Lono were placed between the poles. When the kahuna determined that sufficient ho'okupu had been brought they lifted the kapu (taboo) on the ahupua'a. The people were free to relax, play games, and dance during the remaining months of makahiki.
The collected ho'okupu was distributed to Lono's representatives on earth, the chiefs, ranging from konohiki up
through ali'i nui.




	*SOS Embraces Native Hawaiian Culture* ABOUT AHUPUA'A In ancient Hawaiian times, the konohiki, or caretakers, managed a section of land from the mountains to the sea, referred to as the "Ahupua'a." This wise conservation system prevented exploitation, pollution, and extinction of plants, animals, and marine species while allowing the people to take what they needed for sustenance. The following excerpt from the Kamehameha Schools publication, "The Ahupua'a," elaborates. No Na Ahupua'a I 'aina no Ka 'aina i ke ali'i, a i waiwai no ka 'aina i ke kanaka.. The land remains the land because of the chiefs, and prosperity comes to the land because of the common people. In the time of 'Umi, son of the great chief Liloa, the Hawaiian islands were divided into political regions. The four mokupuni (larger islands) of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i were divided into moku (districts). The smaller islands of Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe became moku of Maui and Ni'ihau a moku of Kaua'i. For ease in collecting annual tribute the moku were subdivided into ahupua'a, land sections that usually extended from the mountain summits down through fertile valleys to the outer edge of the reef in the sea. Ahupua'a were often entire valleys, with the ridges between serving as boundaries. They varied in size on different islands from as little as 100 acres to more than 100,000 acres. Ahupua'a were often divided into areas called 'ili: some a single tract, some divided, and some divided and crossing ahupua'a boundaries. Areas of 'ili separated from the main part of an 'ili but considered part of it were called 'ili lele. An ali'i nui (high chief) ruled the mokupuni He appointed an ali'i 'ai moku (lower chief) to rule each moku. The ali'i 'ai moku chose a chief of lesser rank, an ali'i 'ai ahupua'a, to rule the ahupua'a. Often the ali'i 'ai ahupua'a was not a resident of the ahupua'a when selected and the title was not hereditary. Sometimes the ali'i 'ai ahupua'a also served as the konohiki (headman) and ran the day-to-day operations of the ahupua'a. The konohiki managed land use, assisted by luna who were experts in different specialties. For example, the luna wai was in charge of water for the lo'i (irrigated terraces) and another luna was in charge of land boundaries within the ahupua'a. Each ahupua'a also had its own master fisherman and master farmer. Ahupua'a contained nearly all the resources Hawaiians required for survival. Fresh water resources were managed carefully for drinking, bathing, and irrigation. Wild and cultivated plants provided food, clothing, household goods, canoes, weapons, and countless other useful products. Many land and sea creatures utilized for food also provided bones, teeth, skin, and feathers for tools, crafts, and ornamentation. The name ahupua'a is derived from ahu, an altar of stones, upon which was placed an image of the head of a pua'a, pig. The head was carved from kukui wood and was painted red-brown with 'alaea (ocherous earth). These altars marked the boundaries between ahupua'a and served as rallying areas for the collection of tribute. In preparation for the four month long makahiki (annual harvest festival), ahu were built or rebuilt near the point where the around the island footpath led into each ahupua'a. The kahuna responsible for collecting tribute and his retinue walked around the island with the ocean on their left and the mountainous center of the island on their right. They carried images of gods, including the Long God known as Lonoikamakahiki. When the procession reached the ahu of Lono, two alia (poles) of kauila or mamane wood were placed near the ahu. The makahiki image was held upright behind the alia and ho'okupu (gifts) such as food, kapa, lau hala mats, nets, bowls, and other offerings to Lono were placed between the poles. When the kahuna determined that sufficient ho'okupu had been brought they lifted the kapu (taboo) on the ahupua'a. The people were free to relax, play games, and dance during the remaining months of makahiki. The collected ho'okupu was distributed to Lono's representatives on earth, the chiefs, ranging from konohiki up through ali'i nui.
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