Maui County Council July 03, 2023
Committee on Water and Infrastructure
Chair Tom Cook
Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura
Re: Proposed Bill 13 (2023) Renaming Puamana Park to Waianu‘ukole Burial Preserve
Aloha nui honorable committee!
My name is Hailama Farden, I represent the Farden ‘ohana, connected to Lahaina; specifically Kahana, Pu‘unoa, Keawaiki, Pu‘ukōli‘i and Puamana (among other areas in Lahaina Proper). My efforts today are not to explicitly oppose the renaming of Puamana Park; but to ask for some consideration to remember a commitment and gift that has been cherished by my ‘ohana. I have a few thoughts below (for historical background):
The name Puamana:
• The Farden Family ancestral lands are in Kahana, Maui (specifically located where Puamana Place is today – and easement road named after our family home in Lahaina proper). This is ancestral land connected to my great grandmother’s maternal side: Nohokaha Manuwai Bastel (My great great grandmother) and Kahalepouli Nohokaha Shaw (her sister) – among other siblings – this land has been connected to our ‘ohana as long as we have known.
• My great grandfather, Charles Kekua Farden bought the property on Front Street on November 11, 1905 from Prince Kūhiō (who was the administrator of the Estate of his late Aunt, HM Queen Kapi‘olani). As one can see, our family inherited the name “Puamana” from Her Majesty’s estate {A snipped caption from the np The Hawaiian Star, Nov. 23, 1905 was attached in the written testimony})
• Per my great grandfather as shared by my late grand aunt Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli (among other sibling’s stories), the lot on which my great grandfather would construct our home, Puamana was where the Chief Puamana had his Hālau wa‘a (canoe shelter). Grandpa Farden wanted to honor that name, thus when the home was completed in 1915, he named the home Puamana.
• Around the mid 1950; the surviving 11 of the 13 children, thought it best to sell the home. The home was sold and was eventually torn down. The wood that was salvageable was used to build part of a home and its garage on Kale Street off Lahainaluna Road. The 12 trees that were planted by 12 of the 13 siblings remained as tenements to the home remembered in the 1937 composition, Puamana (Composed by Charles Kekua Farden and Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli). The trees were cut down by the then owner 19 years ago.
• Around 1967; a development was planned on the Mākila side of Lahaina (where it is currently located) – The developers (I think Lewers and Cooke??) asked our Aunties and Uncles if they could name the development for our home Puamana (which I admit has led to many mistakenly believing that our home was located there). I believe there was agreement with the County of Maui as to the placement (or replacement of the road); thus as an accommodation to this agreement, the developer created the Puamana Park as was known up until these days. My understanding this that this was codified and agreed to by the County of Maui; “honoring” the memory of our Family home. Thus, our interpretation that the Park is as a gift in name.
• Most-Wailuku point of the park: My grand aunt Emma Farden Sharpe (one of the last of three siblings who remained residents of Lahaina), was the only known Kumu Hula, whose hula genealogy was secured with the Lahaina traditions of Hula (today carried by my cousin, Holo‘aumoku Ralar of Kahana, Maui). Auntie Emma’s Kumu was Tūtū Rebecca Kauhai (Likua) ‘Ōpūnui -a dancer for the court of Kamehameha IV (some reports have her with HM Kalākaua). Auntie Emma – in honor of her many years of give-back to her community was to be honored in October of 1991 with a section of the Puamana Park (the aforementioned Wailuku side of the park) named for her. She unexpectedly passed away on September 20, 1991 – I was among a few family members that attended the tree planting ceremony and dedication of that section of the park (only my cousin Holo‘aumoku Ralar and I remain) the others; Auntie Diana Farden Fernandes (Child #8), Auntie Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli (#9) and Auntie Edna Farden Bekeart (#12) were also present to plant coconut trees (the Trees died within a year of no water). Also present with Uncle Ned Lindsey (Mānaleo and honored composer and Kupuna of Lahaina) and his wife, Auntie Pua Lindsey were there to plant a plumeria tree that was named after Auntie Emma (that they had propagated). (It was Uncle Ned who adamantly confirmed that the area on which the Park stood was Mākila). Never have I passed Puamana park without feeling as sense of aloha and appreciation for the designation of the Park– for it was a nice acknowledgement of my kūpuna. In April 2023, I went to the Celebration of the Arts at the Ritz Carlton, on the way back I stopped at Hale Aloha graveyard to put lei on my great grandparent’s (and Auntie Emma’s) graves. Because of this I took to lower road (and not the bypass). Passing Puamana Park, I noticed the sign was taken down, the Park was blocked off and Auntie Emma’s plumeria was dead. I was sad at the presumed abandonment, but thought the park was going to be refurbished – and then later, I could ask the County to replant Coconut and other trees in the park. I only heard in mid-June of the proposed renaming proposal.
• Waianu‘ukole: Having reviewed some maps, I concur that Waianu‘ukole was a name associated with the area (not 100% sure if it was at the exact place of the current Park) but definitely closer than Puamana.
• Burial Preserve: I do not have the scope and information about how large the burial area is. I will advocate a couple of things, however;
o One will not escape burials no matter where we look – Our kūpuna buried our ‘ohana among us all – we were, and ought never to exclude our burials from our people.
o We should never disrespect, dishonor or defile our iwi kūpuna and sites at which they rest; but this does not prevent us from being around them – and learning about them; even teaching all how to enjoy our ‘āina and our kūpuna; while respecting them.
o Can a Park not honor and respect our kūpuna? I was raised to understand our kūpuna were happy to have us around them – even hearing kūpuna tell the makua who were scolding the children for climbing on the cement tombs, “It’s okay, they love the children playing among them.”
• Final thoughts:
o a friend asked if I might consider a collective idea of Puamana Burial Preserve at Waianu‘ukole – I think our family would be okay with this; and continue to feel connected to the place.
o I am not sure that a “park” should be out of the question (for the above reasons I state); but proper signage would help folks by educating them to respect our kūpuna and their resting places.
o I further wonder (not knowing the scope of burials) if calling the area, a burial preserve is appropriate (again, no matter where we look, there will be burials). I know that the entire Ka‘anapali area could be designated a burial preserve and so could Pu‘upīhā in Māla, where my great great grand parents (and before) are buried (on my paternal grandmother’s side)
o I happily volunteer to remain engaged with the County and Committee to support the result of your decision.
o If you feel it is wise to remove the name Puamana from this area, would you consider something else that could take the name gift of both Puamana and Auntie Emma?
Mahalo for you consideration of my statement above!
Maui County Council July 03, 2023
Committee on Water and Infrastructure
Chair Tom Cook
Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura
Re: Proposed Bill 13 (2023) Renaming Puamana Park to Waianu‘ukole Burial Preserve
Aloha nui honorable committee!
My name is Hailama Farden, I represent the Farden ‘ohana, connected to Lahaina; specifically Kahana, Pu‘unoa, Keawaiki, Pu‘ukōli‘i and Puamana (among other areas in Lahaina Proper). My efforts today are not to explicitly oppose the renaming of Puamana Park; but to ask for some consideration to remember a commitment and gift that has been cherished by my ‘ohana. I have a few thoughts below (for historical background):
The name Puamana:
• The Farden Family ancestral lands are in Kahana, Maui (specifically located where Puamana Place is today – and easement road named after our family home in Lahaina proper). This is ancestral land connected to my great grandmother’s maternal side: Nohokaha Manuwai Bastel (My great great grandmother) and Kahalepouli Nohokaha Shaw (her sister) – among other siblings – this land has been connected to our ‘ohana as long as we have known.
• My great grandfather, Charles Kekua Farden bought the property on Front Street on November 11, 1905 from Prince Kūhiō (who was the administrator of the Estate of his late Aunt, HM Queen Kapi‘olani). As one can see, our family inherited the name “Puamana” from Her Majesty’s estate {A snipped caption from the np The Hawaiian Star, Nov. 23, 1905 was attached in the written testimony})
• Per my great grandfather as shared by my late grand aunt Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli (among other sibling’s stories), the lot on which my great grandfather would construct our home, Puamana was where the Chief Puamana had his Hālau wa‘a (canoe shelter). Grandpa Farden wanted to honor that name, thus when the home was completed in 1915, he named the home Puamana.
• Around the mid 1950; the surviving 11 of the 13 children, thought it best to sell the home. The home was sold and was eventually torn down. The wood that was salvageable was used to build part of a home and its garage on Kale Street off Lahainaluna Road. The 12 trees that were planted by 12 of the 13 siblings remained as tenements to the home remembered in the 1937 composition, Puamana (Composed by Charles Kekua Farden and Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli). The trees were cut down by the then owner 19 years ago.
• Around 1967; a development was planned on the Mākila side of Lahaina (where it is currently located) – The developers (I think Lewers and Cooke??) asked our Aunties and Uncles if they could name the development for our home Puamana (which I admit has led to many mistakenly believing that our home was located there). I believe there was agreement with the County of Maui as to the placement (or replacement of the road); thus as an accommodation to this agreement, the developer created the Puamana Park as was known up until these days. My understanding this that this was codified and agreed to by the County of Maui; “honoring” the memory of our Family home. Thus, our interpretation that the Park is as a gift in name.
• Most-Wailuku point of the park: My grand aunt Emma Farden Sharpe (one of the last of three siblings who remained residents of Lahaina), was the only known Kumu Hula, whose hula genealogy was secured with the Lahaina traditions of Hula (today carried by my cousin, Holo‘aumoku Ralar of Kahana, Maui). Auntie Emma’s Kumu was Tūtū Rebecca Kauhai (Likua) ‘Ōpūnui -a dancer for the court of Kamehameha IV (some reports have her with HM Kalākaua). Auntie Emma – in honor of her many years of give-back to her community was to be honored in October of 1991 with a section of the Puamana Park (the aforementioned Wailuku side of the park) named for her. She unexpectedly passed away on September 20, 1991 – I was among a few family members that attended the tree planting ceremony and dedication of that section of the park (only my cousin Holo‘aumoku Ralar and I remain) the others; Auntie Diana Farden Fernandes (Child #8), Auntie Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli (#9) and Auntie Edna Farden Bekeart (#12) were also present to plant coconut trees (the Trees died within a year of no water). Also present with Uncle Ned Lindsey (Mānaleo and honored composer and Kupuna of Lahaina) and his wife, Auntie Pua Lindsey were there to plant a plumeria tree that was named after Auntie Emma (that they had propagated). (It was Uncle Ned who adamantly confirmed that the area on which the Park stood was Mākila). Never have I passed Puamana park without feeling as sense of aloha and appreciation for the designation of the Park– for it was a nice acknowledgement of my kūpuna. In April 2023, I went to the Celebration of the Arts at the Ritz Carlton, on the way back I stopped at Hale Aloha graveyard to put lei on my great grandparent’s (and Auntie Emma’s) graves. Because of this I took to lower road (and not the bypass). Passing Puamana Park, I noticed the sign was taken down, the Park was blocked off and Auntie Emma’s plumeria was dead. I was sad at the presumed abandonment, but thought the park was going to be refurbished – and then later, I could ask the County to replant Coconut and other trees in the park. I only heard in mid-June of the proposed renaming proposal.
• Waianu‘ukole: Having reviewed some maps, I concur that Waianu‘ukole was a name associated with the area (not 100% sure if it was at the exact place of the current Park) but definitely closer than Puamana.
• Burial Preserve: I do not have the scope and information about how large the burial area is. I will advocate a couple of things, however;
o One will not escape burials no matter where we look – Our kūpuna buried our ‘ohana among us all – we were, and ought never to exclude our burials from our people.
o We should never disrespect, dishonor or defile our iwi kūpuna and sites at which they rest; but this does not prevent us from being around them – and learning about them; even teaching all how to enjoy our ‘āina and our kūpuna; while respecting them.
o Can a Park not honor and respect our kūpuna? I was raised to understand our kūpuna were happy to have us around them – even hearing kūpuna tell the makua who were scolding the children for climbing on the cement tombs, “It’s okay, they love the children playing among them.”
• Final thoughts:
o a friend asked if I might consider a collective idea of Puamana Burial Preserve at Waianu‘ukole – I think our family would be okay with this; and continue to feel connected to the place.
o I am not sure that a “park” should be out of the question (for the above reasons I state); but proper signage would help folks by educating them to respect our kūpuna and their resting places.
o I further wonder (not knowing the scope of burials) if calling the area, a burial preserve is appropriate (again, no matter where we look, there will be burials). I know that the entire Ka‘anapali area could be designated a burial preserve and so could Pu‘upīhā in Māla, where my great great grand parents (and before) are buried (on my paternal grandmother’s side)
o I happily volunteer to remain engaged with the County and Committee to support the result of your decision.
o If you feel it is wise to remove the name Puamana from this area, would you consider something else that could take the name gift of both Puamana and Auntie Emma?
Mahalo for you consideration of my statement above!
Me Ke Aloha,
Hailama V.K.K. Farden