Hā'ena is a land steeped in antiquity yet vibrantly beautiful today as any fantasy of a tropical paradise. He 'aina momona, a rich and fertile land linked to the sea and the rising and setting sun, is a place of gods and goddesses. It epitomizes the best that can be found in the district of northwestern Kaua'i, known to aboriginal people of Hawai'i as Halele'a (House of Pleasure and Delight). This book offers a unique perspective in the complex story of the ahupua'a of Hā'ena by examining the unique relationships developed by Hawaiians with the environment as well as the system used to look af ... More

Hā'ena is a land steeped in antiquity yet vibrantly beautiful today as any fantasy of a tropical paradise. He 'aina momona, a rich and fertile land linked to the sea and the rising and setting sun, is a place of gods and goddesses. It epitomizes the best that can be found in the district of northwestern Kaua'i, known to aboriginal people of Hawai'i as Halele'a (House of Pleasure and Delight). This book offers a unique perspective in the complex story of the ahupua'a of Hā'ena by examining the unique relationships developed by Hawaiians with the environment as well as the system used to look after the land and the sea. It also explores the changes wrought by concepts and perceptions introduced by European, American, and Asian immigrants; the impact of land privatization as Hawai'i struggled to preserve its independence; and the influence of the Mahele of 1848 and the Kuleana Act of 1850 on Hā'ena. Part of this story includes a description of the thirty-nine Hawaiians who pooled their resources, bought the entire ahupua'a of Hā'ena, and held it in common from the late 1800s to 1967. Lastly, the book collects the stories of kupuna who share their experiences of life in Hā'ena and surrounding areas, capturing a way of life that is quickly disappearing beneath the rising tide of non-Native people who now inhabit the land.