Helumoa - Honolulu, Oahu, HI
Posted by: 
denben
N 21° 16.853 W 157° 49.826
4Q E 621329 N 2353683
The Waikiki Historical Trail Marker #12 is located in the triangle park at the intersection of Kalakaua and Beach Walk in the Waikiki District of Honolulu, Oahu.
Waymark Code: WMRJ6R
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 06/26/2016
Views: 8
The marker reads:
"Helumoa
The ancient Helumoa Coconut Grove still graced the royal acreage of Waikiki in the 1870s.
Surrounded by this open landscape, one can imagine the huge coconut grove known as Helumoa. Planted by Chief Kakuhihewa around the 15th century, the grove once had nearly 10,000 trees. Kahuamokomoko was an area nearby that served as a sporting field. Boxing, wrestling, foot races and other games were played there. 'Ulu maika, the round stones used for a bowling-type game, were discovered on this site during excavation and construction of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Kamehameha the Great and his warriors camped near here when they began their conquest of O'ahu in 1795. Later, he would build a stone house for himself, as well as residences for his wives and retainers in an area known as Pua'ali'ili'i. Kamehameha ended Waikiki's nearly 400-year reign as O'ahu's capital when he moved the royal headquarters to Honolulu (known then as Kou) in 1808.
Eventually, Kamehameha V, Lot Kapuaiwa, built his modest residence here among the palms. The property was inherited by his half-sister, Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani, who later willed it to Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Much of Helumoa is still owned by Kamehameha Schools, a Bernice Pauahi Bishop legacy and institution that educates thousands of Native Hawaiian children across the State.
The nearby Royal Hawaiian Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace, was completed in 1927 at a cost of $5 million. With 400 lavishly decorated rooms and Spanish-Moorish style architecture, it was then touted as the "finest resort hostelry in America."
This beautiful park is owned by the City & County of Honolulu. It was developed by Graham Murata Russell and Mutual of New York Life Insurance Company in 1989 and is privately maintainedfor the residents and visitors of Hawai'i. The tallest coconut palms in the park date back to the 1930s.
This marker is sponsored by the City & County of Honolulu, Waikiki, Kapahulu and Diamond Head Community Vision Group."
Group that erected the marker: Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Intersection of Kalakaua and Beach Walk
Honolulu, HI, US
96815
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, preferably including yourself or your GPSr in the photo. A very detailed description of your visit may be substituted for a photo. In any case please provide a description of your visit. A description of only "Visited" or "Saw it while on vacation" by anyone other than the person creating the waymark may be deleted by the waymark owner or the category officers.