Aloha. My name is Michele Lincoln. Until our house burned down on August 8, we lived behind the Pioneer Mill on Kale/Aki Street in Lahaina for over forty years. Our 1932 home was built with repurposed redwood originating from the Olowalu Sugar Mill.
My husband Gary Lincoln was hired on occasion by Lahaina Restoration for various projects including the restoration of the Agawa House on Prison Street. If the Portuguese oven on that property made it through the fire, it is a historical feature worth saving.
Preserving historical places and culture is important to us. Since 2012, I have advocated for the protection and preservation of historical and cultural sites in the Kahoma Ahupua’a. Sadly, even though there was some success in the courts, the actual outcome has been less than satisfying. I hope that now something good can be realized as we rebuild Lahaina.
1) Parcel 450100060000 .92 acres is under County of Maui control. It has three public access points, one at either end of the property along with one centrally located on Kopili Street. On the Bishop LCA map, it is labeled as “Hale.” The unusual shape bordering the original stream lends itself to a “House of Healing”, a heiau site rather than an individual’s home. Before the State Land Use Commission was bullied into changing their ruling, they acknowledged this sacred site.
Please consider the restoration of this heiau.
It once had the Kahoma Stream flow through the area until the USACE’s Kahoma Flood Control was built in the 1980s redirecting the stream. I learned it had been a healing heiau and a safe place for recovery, a refuge for warriors. Its location in the ahupua’a, would have made it a convenient place to restore your health. Considering it was in the same ahupua’a as the battle fought between Kamehameha the Great and the high chief of Maui, it is likely this type of heiau. Because of its fair weather, abundant water, and food production, Lahaina was fought over throughout Hawaiian history. It’s still worth fighting for today.
A huge Tamarind tree was removed from this parcel to put up a dust fence when Kahoma Residential was developed by West Maui Land. Kapuna, Jane Imai who was born in the neighborhood, said this tree was too big to climb even when they were children.
Learning Tamarind trees were planted as a memorial over umbilical cords or over human remains, it makes you wonder if Queen Liliuokalani planted the tree or ever visited this heiau since Tamarind trees were her favorite. Regardless, it’s worth rebuilding the heiau considering its rich history and the fact the county already has possession of this parcel.
2) Parcel 450080080000 located on Front Street 2.76 acres controlled by the County of Maui bordering Kahoma Village subdivision is formerly part of David Malo’s homestead LCA 3702 gifted to him by Kamehameha III. David Malo’s homestead was adjacent to the Alamihi inland fishpond and former battle ground of Kamehameha the Great.
Sadly, Stanford Carr Development failed to be forthright with the history associated with the acreage Kahoma Village is built on. However, the County of Maui owns several parcels in the area along Kahoma Stream that could be made into historical sites.
Located next to the Old Lahaina Luau (Parcel 450050020000 1.01-acres) and Cannery Mall (450080070000 1.62-acres), the entrance to Mala Wharf and beach access parking by the Jodo Mission (Parcel 45004063000 .41 acres Ala Moana Street) are county properties that would be ideal to erect signage with historical information along with renderings of what it looked like. Mala Wharf’s World War II history could be showcased as well on the historical walking tour in the area.
A replica of David Malo’s burial could be erected as an iwi safe for bones recovered from the shoreline graveyard erosion and other human remains found in the area. Many people have never had the pleasure of seeing David Malo’s grave located on the mountain overlooking Lahaina. Making a replica with a bronze bust of Malo and information on this famous Hawaiian would honor this great man on his beloved homestead. The Thomas Jefferson of the Hawaiian Kingdom, David Malo deserves recognition for his achievements and influence.
Receiving beauty from ashes, I hope you will consider both suggestions as we recover from the Lahaina fire. Mahalo!
Aloha,
Can we get a post with a copy of the Q&A that’s happening on the live as of now if possible ?
Aloha and Mahalo for understanding how important the use of Helene Hall is for our beloved community oh Hana.
Aloha. My name is Michele Lincoln. Until our house burned down on August 8, we lived behind the Pioneer Mill on Kale/Aki Street in Lahaina for over forty years. Our 1932 home was built with repurposed redwood originating from the Olowalu Sugar Mill.
My husband Gary Lincoln was hired on occasion by Lahaina Restoration for various projects including the restoration of the Agawa House on Prison Street. If the Portuguese oven on that property made it through the fire, it is a historical feature worth saving.
Preserving historical places and culture is important to us. Since 2012, I have advocated for the protection and preservation of historical and cultural sites in the Kahoma Ahupua’a. Sadly, even though there was some success in the courts, the actual outcome has been less than satisfying. I hope that now something good can be realized as we rebuild Lahaina.
1) Parcel 450100060000 .92 acres is under County of Maui control. It has three public access points, one at either end of the property along with one centrally located on Kopili Street. On the Bishop LCA map, it is labeled as “Hale.” The unusual shape bordering the original stream lends itself to a “House of Healing”, a heiau site rather than an individual’s home. Before the State Land Use Commission was bullied into changing their ruling, they acknowledged this sacred site.
Please consider the restoration of this heiau.
It once had the Kahoma Stream flow through the area until the USACE’s Kahoma Flood Control was built in the 1980s redirecting the stream. I learned it had been a healing heiau and a safe place for recovery, a refuge for warriors. Its location in the ahupua’a, would have made it a convenient place to restore your health. Considering it was in the same ahupua’a as the battle fought between Kamehameha the Great and the high chief of Maui, it is likely this type of heiau. Because of its fair weather, abundant water, and food production, Lahaina was fought over throughout Hawaiian history. It’s still worth fighting for today.
A huge Tamarind tree was removed from this parcel to put up a dust fence when Kahoma Residential was developed by West Maui Land. Kapuna, Jane Imai who was born in the neighborhood, said this tree was too big to climb even when they were children.
Learning Tamarind trees were planted as a memorial over umbilical cords or over human remains, it makes you wonder if Queen Liliuokalani planted the tree or ever visited this heiau since Tamarind trees were her favorite. Regardless, it’s worth rebuilding the heiau considering its rich history and the fact the county already has possession of this parcel.
2) Parcel 450080080000 located on Front Street 2.76 acres controlled by the County of Maui bordering Kahoma Village subdivision is formerly part of David Malo’s homestead LCA 3702 gifted to him by Kamehameha III. David Malo’s homestead was adjacent to the Alamihi inland fishpond and former battle ground of Kamehameha the Great.
Sadly, Stanford Carr Development failed to be forthright with the history associated with the acreage Kahoma Village is built on. However, the County of Maui owns several parcels in the area along Kahoma Stream that could be made into historical sites.
Located next to the Old Lahaina Luau (Parcel 450050020000 1.01-acres) and Cannery Mall (450080070000 1.62-acres), the entrance to Mala Wharf and beach access parking by the Jodo Mission (Parcel 45004063000 .41 acres Ala Moana Street) are county properties that would be ideal to erect signage with historical information along with renderings of what it looked like. Mala Wharf’s World War II history could be showcased as well on the historical walking tour in the area.
A replica of David Malo’s burial could be erected as an iwi safe for bones recovered from the shoreline graveyard erosion and other human remains found in the area. Many people have never had the pleasure of seeing David Malo’s grave located on the mountain overlooking Lahaina. Making a replica with a bronze bust of Malo and information on this famous Hawaiian would honor this great man on his beloved homestead. The Thomas Jefferson of the Hawaiian Kingdom, David Malo deserves recognition for his achievements and influence.
Receiving beauty from ashes, I hope you will consider both suggestions as we recover from the Lahaina fire. Mahalo!