About Puahia
He ʻĀina Pā Makani, A Land Where the Winds Blow
Puahia (to be blown about) was composed of loʻi (wetland farms) and kula (flat dry areas) that were on government lands acquired by the university. The manowai (dam) in the stream below was cared for and named after a konohiki (steward) named Ono. Ono’s manowai continues to divert water to the ʻauwai of Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai, the taro fields located next to Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. The name “Puahia” may be in reference to the way wind would blow through this ʻili with close attention to the sway of plants and the relationship between wind and ʻāina.
As long-term residents of ʻili o Puahia, the area’s youth organized a dance in Puahia on the Sabbath (Sunday) in May of 1875. Though contentious at the time and despite the university repurposing the ʻili in the early 1900s, Puahia continues to this day to be a place where people gather to celebrate dance and performance at places like Kennedy Theatre.
Sources
- Coming soon