Hawaii’s Thousand Friends presents …
	Kalihi Stream News
	March 2005
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Saturday, April 16, 2005 Community Work Day Help keep Kalihi Stream beautiful by clearing weeds and planting native plants. Meet at Kuhio Park Terrace behind “B” Building at 9:00 AM. Saturday, May 21, 2005 Kalihi Stream Clean Up – Meet at Kuhio Park Terrace behind “B” Building at 9:00 AM. Saturday, June 18, 2005 Community Work Day – Help keep Kalihi Stream clean. Meet at Kuhio Park Terrace behind “B” Building at 9:00 AM. Everyone is welcome!	“Clean water can be ours …” Kanani Wong, Education Coordinator with students from Halau Lokahi Public Charter School … but we need your help! Kalihi Stream and its tributaries, Kaewai and Kamanaiki Streams, are one of the most intact and beautiful of Oahu’s urban stream systems. The streams create a scenic thread through the center of the Kalihi community, but, unfortunately, like most of Hawaii’s urban streams, Kalihi Stream and its tributaries suffer impacts from erosion, street and driveway runoff, industrial pollution, pesticides and fertilizers, and trash. Community Working For Community The Kalihi Stream Project, an initiative of Hawaii’s Thousand Friends since 1998, has worked with various groups throughout Kalihi to help restore Kalihi Stream to its former central place as an asset to the community. In our just completed Phase II we continued to restore a riparian buffer along Kalihi Stream behind Kuhio Park Terrace by removing alien plants and planting Native Hawaiian plants, by building stewardship through community work days, and establishing hands-on environmental education activities working with area schools. Over 500 people helped on 17 workdays. In addition to area residents, volunteers included the employees’ service group from the accounting firm Ernst Young, Farrington High School’s biology classes and Interact Club, Gear Up Program, Kamehameha Schools’ MEAT Club, Maryknoll High School Environmental Club, PAACT Community Teen Program, Punahou School’s MEAT Club, X Factory Youth Program, YMCA of Honolulu, Youth Conservation Corp and State Representatives Felipe Abinsay and Dennis Arakaki. For more information, come to one of the events listed on our calendar (at left) or call Donna Wong, Executive Director, at 262-0682. If you or your business would like to help provide refreshments for one of our community events, please contact Hawaii’s Thousand Friends at 262-0682.
	Kalihi Valley rich in water stories. Ka-puka-wai-o-Kalihi The water door of Kalihi Kane and Kanaloa journeyed along the coast of the island Oahu until they came to Kalihi. For a long time they had been looking up the hillsides and along the watercourses for awa. At Kalihi a number of fine awa roots were growing. They pulled up the roots and prepared them for chewing. When the awa was ready Kanaloa looked for fresh water, but could not find any. So he said to Kane, “Our awa is good, but there is no water in this place. Where can we find water for this awa?” Kane said, “There is indeed water here.” He had a “large and strong staff.” This he took in his hands and stepped out on the bed of lava, which now underlies the soil of the region. He began to strike the earth. Deep went the point of his staff into the rock, smashing and splintering it and breaking open a hole out of which water leaped for them to mix with their prepared awa. This pool of fresh water has been known since the days of old as Ka puka wai o Kalihi. (From the Westervelt Legends of Honolulu) Hapuu and Kalaihauola Nothing less than the sacrifice of a black pig with a red stripe down the body can undo the mischief, which has been done in building the approach road to the Kalihi end of the Wilson Tunnel. That is what some Hawaiians are saying after hearing of the destruction of the two Eepa stones, which stood since the beginning of time within the forest reserve area site. The two famous stones were destroyed by bulldozers last October when the men first cleared the area for the approach road. Their destruction was probably the cause of the drought which gripped this Island during the Fall months and the heavy rains which have been falling this summer (1954) and caused the Wilson Tunnel cave-in, the Hawaiians say. Further trouble can be avoided with a proper ceremony in which forgiveness is asked for the disturbance of sacred land belonging to Hawaii’s ancient gods and by the offering of a particular black pig, the puaa hiwa olomea and, among other things, a red chicken called the moa ula hiwa. The reason why the stones were so important is that they were believed to have been placed in the Kalihi-uka spot by the Eepa people, small folks related to the Menehunes who were driven out of Nuuanu Valley when the gods resided near the Country Club. The stones were called Hapuu and Kalaihauola and were believed to be the embodiment of two kupua goddesses. The stones stood in an area of pools of spring water. One pool was icy cold, others warm, Hawaiian mothers brought their newborn babes to the spot and bathed them in the warm spring. Travelers to the area placed leis and flowers upon the stones, at the same time asking the Eepa not to play tricks on them. A favorite lei offering was made of the sweet smelling pala palai fern. The pools marked the spot where the great god Kane struck the earth and brought forth water. It is called Ka puka wai o Kalihi, the water door of Kalihi. In olden days no one would move the rocks or sprinkle them with water for fear of bringing sharp rains. It may be that the complete destruction of the rocks brought last Winter’s drought because the goddess who sits on the mountain tops in mist and rain could not come down to the base of the mountain, bringing the rain, and find the old rocks to sit upon, the Hawaiians say. (From an article by Clarice Taylor, Honolulu Star Bulletin, August 18, 1954) This newsletter was produced with a generous grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and State Department of Health. MAHALO……