2. NĀ PALENA: Boundaries
• Hilo, mai Māwae a ka pali o Maulua
Hilo, from Māwae to the cliff of Maulua
The extent of the Hilo district is from Māwae
on the Puna side to Maulua on the Hāmākua
side
3. NĀ HILO
• Hilo Hanakahi
– Region south of Hilo Bay named after an early
chief and known for its groves of hala
• Hilo One
– Region of Hilo fronting the sandy beach of Hilo
Bay
• Hilo Palikū
– A region of Hilo Bay with high sea cliffs
4.
5. WIND & RAIN
• Ka makani (wind)
– `A`alahonua
– Māluaki`iwai
– Uluau
– Kīhaelā`ī
• Ka ua (rain)
– Kanilehua
– Lokuloku
– Kinakinai
– Mao `ole
6. ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU
• `Ele`ele Hilo, panopano i ka ua
Dark is Hilo, clouded with rain
Hilo is always rainy
• Halulu me he kapua`i kanaka lā ka ua o Hilo
The rain of Hilo makes a rumbling sound like
the treading of feet.
7. ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU
• Hilo mahi haʻ aheo
Hilo of the proud farmers
The climate makes the soil of Hilo very easy to
till, so the farmers used to make a game of
planting. They used long digging sticks to
make the holes and wore lei to work. Working
in unison, they made a handsome picture.
8. ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU
• Ke one ʻ anapa o Waiolama
The sparkling sand of Waiolama
This is an expression much used in chants of Hilo.
Waiolama is a place between Waiākea and the
town of Hilo. It is said to have sand that sparkled
in the sunlight
9. ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU
– Lei Hanakahi i ke ʻ ala me ke
onaona o Panaʻ ewa
• Hanakahi is adorned with the
fragrance and perfume of
Panaʻewa. The forest of Panaʻewa
was famous for its maile vines and
hala and lehua blossoms, well liked
for making lei, so Hilo (Hanakahi)
was said to be wreathed with
fragrance
10. HILO FACTS
• Hilo is the seat of Hawai`i County
• Approximately 46,000 residents
• Settled by missionaries circa 1822
• Second largest city in the state
• Said to be the wettest city in the U.S.
11. MERRIE MONARCH
• Week long festival beginning with a
Hoʻolauleʻa on Easter Sunday every year
• Hula competition, parade, mid-day
entertainment, exhibition night, arts &
crafts fair
• Click here to watch Hālau Hula O Kahikilaulani's hu
. (I’m dancing in this video in the front row right hand corner when you’re looking at
the stage)
Notas del editor
Reminder that `A`ole pau ka `ike ma ka hālau ho`okahi – Not all knowledge is taught in one school. What I am sharing with you is what I have learned from my experiences and education There is no way that we can encompass everything that there is to learn about the island of Hawai`i. Hopefully this will inspire you to continue learning and share with others because it truly is a lifelong process
Keep in mind that what I am sharing is the traditional boundaries. The boundaries used to determine one’s voting district is not the same as these traditional boundaries. Maulua – near `Ō`ōkala
You may hear the term Nā Hilo in mele or oli Refers to the 3 regions of Hilo HILO HANAKAHI – inland towards Keaukaha. Named after a beloved chief Hanakahi. Known for its groves of hala (pandanus). The leaves of the hala are used to make mats, pāpaale HILO ONE – Hilo Bay. One means sand HILO PALIKŪ – pali meaning cliff; kū meaning upright
Here is a map showing the ahupua`a. Within each moku or district are ahupua`a. Ahupua`a are subdivisions of land that extend from the mountain to the shore. Boundary markers for these ahupua`a were usually an ahu (heap of stones) used to leave offerings for the ali`i or royalty. Offerings included pua`a or pig, hence the name ahupua`a. Much of the early settlement in Hilo took place near the coast with agricultural fields scattered amongst the uplands. `Auwai or ditches were dug from upland springs to bring fresh water to settlement areas for drinking and farming. Also on this map, you see the regions that I described to you earlier – Hilo Hanakahi, Hilo One & Hilo Palikū
As mentioned previously, there are names of wind and rain for each place. There are even more specific names for the different areas within each district. `A`alahonua – a wind associated with Hilo that is accompanied with rain. Means the wind that brings the earth fragrance Māluaki`iwai – a sea breeze accompanied by showers. Song called Māluaki`iwai Uluau – A wind associated with Waiākea area Kīhaelā`ī – wind in the Hilo Palikū area that is so strong it shreds ti-leaves Rain – speciifc names for rain Kanilehua – most famous that is heard in a lot of mele. Ka ua Kanilehua rain of Hilo – Hilo, of the Kanilehua rain. Kanilehua rain refers to the rain that patters in the lehua forest. My kumu says the rain that sings upon the lehua Lokuloku – heavy rain, downpour – comes from the `ŌN Hilo `āina i ka ua lokuloku Hilo i Kinakinai - constant Mao`ole – never clearing
In reference to the heavy rain of Hilo that sounds like someone is walking on your roof. If you live in Hilo and have a tin roof, you know exactly which rain I am referring to.
Waiolama was a wetland area that was fed by springs and intermittent flows from `Alenaio Stream. Refer to the map
Pana`ewa located in Hilo Shown here are the maile, hala fruit & lehua blossom
An average 126 inches per year Average of over 200 days of rain a year
Hilo is home of the MM Hula Festival. The festival features mid-day entertainment at the hotels throughout the week (M-F) arts & crafts fair (Wed-Saturday), a cultural exhibition night on Wed called Hō`ike which features hula, international performances and music Women’s competition called Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday Men and women’s group competition on Friday & Saturday Friday – kahiko Saturday - `auana Saturday - Parade through downtown Hilo at 10:30 Reknown and prestigious competition
