Ka'iwakiloumoku - Hawaiian Cultural Center

Left: On May 23, 2006, the Ho‘owehe -- blessing ceremony -- was held at Keanakamanō, both to welcome Billy Fields and his crew to the site and to officially begin the restoration project. Center: The original kahua as it appeared before restoration work began. The kahua was almost indiscernible from the land around it. Right: An aerial view of Keanakamanō before the work began.

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Left: Billy Fields is a master in the Native Hawaiian art of uhau humu pōhaku, or the "skillful setting of stones in tapered formations that use weight and gravity to lock into place," as defined by the non-profit group Hui Ho‘oniho. Center: Dr. Chun welcomes the group to Keanakamanō. Right: Work begins to clear the upper area of the site and level out the large kahua area.

Left: Large boulders are retrieved from around the site to begin forming the large kahua.The only pieces of heavy equipment used on the site were one bobcat and one crane, used to manuever the largest stones. Center: The area that will become the restored large kahua is levelled off. The ditch to the right is a drainage swale, purposely created to help divert any flood or rain waters past the kahua and into the river beyond. Right: Large piles of hakahaka in the foreground will eventually be laid atop the large kahua and other areas to help minimize dust and weeds.

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