Imagine chiefs gathering here long ago. They sought the pure waters of Kahuewai. It was a favorite resting place. It was a place exclusively for chiefs. We are at Kalauao Spring.
This place whispers tales of old Hawaii. Kalauao Spring is near Pearl Harbor. It is more than just a water source. It is a landmark steeped in history and legend.
The name Kalauao means “the multitude of clouds”. This ahupua’a stretches from Pearl Harbor to the Ko’olau Range. It follows Kalauao Stream. The rich resources here made it a prize for chiefs. Battles were fought for these lands.
Long ago, these springs irrigated taro fields. Later, the fields supported rice cultivation. Picture this area in 1904. A traveler described a train journey. It skirted the shore through rice and sugar plantations. He noted the backbreaking labor of Chinese workers in the rice paddies.
Kahuawai is a small waterfall along Kalauao Stream. It was a noted bathing place. It was reserved for chiefs. Kakuhihewa’s daughters bathed here. Kaʻeo, the chief of Kauaʻi, also used it before a battle.
Remember the battle of Kukiʻiahu. It raged here in 1794. Chief Kaʻeo of Maui fought Kalanikupule of Oʻahu. Kaʻeo’s red feather cloak betrayed him. He was killed fighting bravely near here.
Later, the land saw new uses. In 1928, Moriichi and Makiyo Sumida began farming here. They grew bananas, taro, and rice. By 1950, watercress became their sole crop. The Sumida watercress farm still benefits from Kalauao Spring.
Kalauao’s waters were pure. In 1928, Hawaii required watercress to be grown in pure spring water. Kalauao’s water was clean. It was safe to drink.
The chiefess Kalamanuʻia built Loko Opu. This large fishpond was in Kalauao. It was along the Pearl Harbor coast.
After the Māhele, half of Kalauao went to Laura Konia. She was a relative of Kamehameha I. The other half went to John Meek. He was a sandalwood merchant.
Today, the Pearl Country Club and Pearlridge Shopping Center occupy parts of Kalauao. But Kalauao Spring still flows. It is a reminder of the past. It sustains life. It connects us to old Hawaii.