It helps to know the language
The Dec. 7 WHT headline, “Vanishing Act” may be news to some but it is a laughing matter to many of us. The Marine geophysicist who did the research to formulate his conclusion could have saved himself a lot of work and given credit to where credit is due had he just learned the meaning of some Hawaiian place names.
Rivers of fresh water from the up land rains flowing underground before making exit off shore somewhere under the ocean is not new information. The Hawaiians of old named the aha puwaa (land area) above Kailua Kona as being “kahawai ole” which means: void of streams. To be more specific, “kaha” refers to erosion or scratching by “wai” or fresh water and “ole” means: none existent. In other words, the area above Kailua is without streams.
The name Kailua explains why. Kailua interpreted means: “Kai,” ocean water, and “lua”, means hidden or secretive. In other words, the name “Kailua” means that there is a secretive source of water emanating from somewhere. The problem is that upon the arrival of the white man, “lua” took on the meaning of toilet or bathroom when in essence, using the bathroom is something someone does in private, it requires privacy. Remember, to “Ka lua,” (underground roasting of a pig) does not mean cooking a pig in a toilet but to cook it underground or hidden.
The same principal applies to the names Ka Poho and Poho Iki in the Puna District. Those areas are not worth investing in due to the volcanic activity. The old Hawaiians knew the dangers involved and and therefore named the places as being “not worth the investing” which was disregarded by those who know better resulting in the rest of us having to bail them out.
So, Kailua does not refer to waste water being ejected in the bay but the rivers of fresh water traveling underground, not visible from above, “kahawai ole,” making exit under the ocean.
Leningrad Elarionoff
Waimea
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