Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

Theodore “Teddy” Bell
Recollections of the ‘Äina Mauna:
Field Interview from Waimea to Humu‘ula
March 12, 2002,
with Kepä Maly
and Robby Hind 3
Theodore “Teddy” Bell,
was born in 1923, in
Waimea, and was
descended from families
with generations of
residency in Waimea, and
cultural attachment with
the ‘äina mauna of
Hawai‘i. Uncle Teddy was
raised in Waimea and
Waiki‘i, where his father,
Alex Bell, was the station
manager. He traveled the
ranch and mountain lands
all his life, and learned
about the cultural
landscape from elder
Hawaiians with whom he
lived and worked.
Teddy Bell at Humu‘ula (Photo No. KPA-2761)
In this interview, and a
follow up interview at
Waiki‘i (March 28, 2002), Uncle Teddy, shared detailed descriptions of the land, families, ranch
operations, and history of which he learned. He expressed strong belief in care for the land, use of
the old place names, and respect of place. As a youth, Uncle Teddy attended school at Waiki‘i, and
the pine tree situated in the field just makai of the Saddle Road, and Kohala side of ‘Auwaiakeakua
Gulch was planted by him, when he was a student at the school. He also shared his recollections of
life in the village, who the families were, and the development of the Waiki‘i corn fields. Uncle Teddy
worked for Parker Ranch from 1940 to 1985, and his interview includes recollections of both his
personal experiences and those things learned from his elders.
When speaking of Mauna Kea and the ‘äina mauna, Uncle Teddy shared his recollections of old tales
of travel to the mountain, and he himself, traveled the trails with his uncles and father. He also
shared, that for a while in the 1960s, he worked on the project that improved the route of access to
the summit of Mauna Kea. When asked, his recollection of any pule (prayer) or observances that may
have occurred when that work was done, uncle shared:
“When we were working on the road to the summit, and preparing the pad for
construction of the first telescope, the pule was conducted by one of the old timers on the
crew.”
3
This interview was in part conducted to help document the history and occurrence of gorse on the Humu‘ula
lands, in conjunction with the gorse eradication program of Parker Ranch and associates on Hawaiian
Homestead Pastoral Lease Lands. While in the field at Humu‘ula, we were also joined by Mrs. Ululani Sherlock
(then, of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs); and Mr. Ed Stevens of ‘Öiwi Lokähi (a Hawaiian Homesteader’s
advocacy group).
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:123