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Notes on Wailuku Sites
by Elspeth Sterling
"The collection consists of notes compiled by Elspeth Sterling about Maui archeological sites and features, geography, history and description's of life and activities, folklore, and legends... Most of Sterling's notes are from a variety of late 18th and early-mid 19th century newspapers, journals, books, and other secondary sources. Among the secondary journals excerpted are The Hawaiian Planter, and Hawaiian Annual ...
"Mrs. Sterling served as a dedicated volunteer researcher in Hawaiian archaeology and history for Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu for nearly 20 years ... In 1961 Mrs. Sterling moved to Maui, where she continued the anthropological work she had begun at Bishop Museum."
Spellings and punctuation in Hawaiian words remain as they were noted by Elsbeth Sterling. Sources are cited by author's name or title, with date and page number.
from the Finding Aid written by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt
"The Four Winds"
Wailuku's wind is the Makani-lawe-malie, the wind that takes it easy.
Waiehu's wind is the Makani-hoo'eha-ili, the wind that hurts the skin.
Waikapu's wind is the Makani-ko-kololio, the gusty wind.
Waihee's wind is the Makani-Mi-'o'opu."
"Kili-'o'opu Wind"
"The wind of Waihee - the Kili-'o'opu (Faint [odors] of the 'o'opu [fish]) was called thus because of the nopili ('o'opu) which were kapu to the chief alone when in season. If commoners went to fetch them they were punished by death. When the 'o'opu were cooked in ti leaves by the people of the uplands the appetizing fragrance was wafted down by the wind to the chief's door and the culprits consequently hunted out in the uplands. However if the 'o'opu were wrapped in olena leaves when cooked, the aroma did not escape.
"Cultivation Around Wailuku"
As you get into the valley and vega of Wailuku, you see numerous remains of old kihapai, or cultivated lots, and divisions of land now waste, showing how much more extensive formerly was the cultivation, and proportionally numerous the people, than now.... The whole valley of Wailuku, cultivated terrace after terrace, gleaming with running waters and standing pools, is a spectacle of uncommon beauty to one that has a position a little above it."
Source: "Rev. Henry T. Cheever Life in the Sandwich Island, pg 124"
"Wailuku Heiau"
"Keahuku, Oluakua, Olopio, Malena, Pohakuokahi, Lelernako, Kawelowelo, Kaulupala, Palarnaihiki, Oloolakalani.
Location: Vicinity of Wailuku. None of them can now be found. Remarks: Said to have been among those consecrated by Liholiho in his tour of Maui for that purpose about 1801.
Source: "Walker Ms. P. 149"
"Battle of Iao - Three Names"
"In the battle at Iao, Kalaikupule (Kalanikupule) was defeated by Kamehameha, the former fleeing in a canoe and going to Oahu. In this battle the slaughter of the people of Maui was so great that the stream and valley of Iao was dammed so that the water receded upward and did not flow downward as it does now. On account of the great number of people slain and the great number of deaths of people rolling down the precipice, that battle was known under three famous appellations. They are: Kepaniwai, Kauwaupali, and Iao. In this war Maui became the possession of Kamehameha to this day of writing, and no one has ever denounced the powerful arm of Kamehameha to this day.
Source: "Fornander Coll. of Hawaiian Ant. Vol V Part 2, pg 470"
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