As part of Our Kaka‘ako’s celebration of Hawaiian History Month in September, we invited Manu Boyd to share his mana‘o (knowledge) about inoa ʻāina (place names) in and around the neighborhood. The kumu hula and Hawaiian cultural consultant for Kamehameha Schools spoke at our virtual talk story in the Barn at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako to almost 120 viewers from Hawai‘i, the mainland, and abroad on Zoom in addition to a small in-person audience. Against a vibrant mural backdrop, Manu began the presentation with an oli ho‘okipa (chant of welcome), then a ho‘olauna (introduction) of himself and the talk story.
After giving an overview of the six moku (land divisions) on O‘ahu—as well as the correct pronunciation of the island name with no ‘W’ sound—Manu dove into Kaka‘ako lore. The “ako” in Kaka‘ako refers to preparing thatching materials. Today’s Kaka‘ako was once part of the ‘ili (small land division) of Ka‘ākaukukui. In those days, the houses in the community were thatched with pili grass, while fishing and pa‘akai (salt) production were the main areas of commerce. Pa‘akai, in particular, allowed Hawai‘i to participate in a triangle trade with the Pacific Northwest and China.
The district’s trading activity naturally led to more industrial development, including the metal trade. With the rise of metal manufacturing, houses and buildings with corrugated iron roofs began to replace the hale pili (houses made of pili grass). The Hawaiian word “meki” was derived from the pronunciation of “metal.”
With Kaka‘ako’s origins established, Manu transitioned to the next segment with a few verses of the mele (song) “Henehene Kou ‘Aka” while strumming his ‘ukulele. Kaka‘ako is mentioned as a destination for pipi (beef) stew in the cheerful melody.
From Kaka‘ako, Manu led us ma uka (inland) to Pūowaina (hill of sacrifice), or modern-day Punchbowl, where Queen Lili‘uokalani was born. She was the hānai (adopted/foster) sister of Kamehameha Schools founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and was born on September 2nd, 1838. To honor Queen Lili‘uokalani for her birthday month, Manu sang “Makalapua,” a mele that refers to her by name.
To conclude, Manu circled back to place names, giving resources and encouraging viewers to research the meanings behind the street names in their own neighborhoods. Learning more ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and embracing aloha ʻāina (love for the land) are other ways you can honor Hawaiian History Month.
A big mahalo to Manu Boyd for guiding us on this journey into the past and to everyone who joined in! If you couldn’t be with us during the livestream, the recorded webinar is available above. Happy Hawaiian History Month!
