Spouting Waters - Honolulu, HI - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

"Waikiki literally means spouting waters, a fitting geographic and historic reference to the abundant streams and springs that bubble up above ground in the area.

The Hawaiian word for district is ahupua‘a. The famed Waikiki Beach is located on the south shore of the Kona ahupua‘a on the island of O‘ahu, between the capital city of Honolulu and Waimanalo, the easternmost ahupua‘a on O‘ahu. Kaluaokau, the land area that encompasses International Market Place, is located within the ahupua‘a of Waikiki.

Traditionally, every island was divided into districts. The Hawaiian system of land tenure was based on the ahupua‘a land section, which was typically a parcel of land beginning in the uplands, stretching past the shore and out to sea. Ahupua‘a boundaries often followed natural geographical features like valley ridges, streams and the coastline. Small stacks of stones also were used to delineate ahupua‘a.

The mountain-to-sea ahupua‘a of Waikiki, long before contact with the Western world, was a wetland through which two main streams, Manoa and Palolo, flowed. Branching off from these larger waterways were many natural streams, auwai (man-made waterways for irrigation), loko i‘a (?shponds), and lo‘i kalo (taro ponds). This swampy stretch of ‘aina (land) spanned three awawa (valleys).

As much as the ‘aina played an integral role in Hawaiian society, wai (fresh water) was an indispensable resource. Hawaiians developed a system of planting wetland kalo in irrigated patches, which yielded in?nitely larger amounts of kalo and allowed the land to be farmed longer and more intensely. Because wai was so vital to the health of the kalo crop, having water meant that you had wealth. Fittingly, the Hawaiian word for wealth is waiwai, literally water water. With water, one could produce a good crop of kalo and sustain a large, prospering society.

The vast water resources in Waikiki allowed the traditional relationship between ‘aina (land) and kanaka (people) to thrive for centuries.

Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua.

Unfolded by the water are the faces of the ?owers. Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good."

Group that erected the marker: International Market Place Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: 2330 Kalākaua Ave Honolulu, HI USA URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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