Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

Mark both expressed concern about the hill’s proximity to a proposed route of the realigned Saddle
Road. Also, it was observed that bone fragments (up to a ½ inch in size), left over from the cremation
process were exposed. With Uncle Jiro’s permission, this information was brought to the attention of
Carl Carlson of Parker Ranch, and he had Wayne Techera put a buffer around the location to ensure
protection.
Uncle Jiro passed away on November 16, 2002. He enjoyed the interviews and field trip, and
expressed his desire to share his stories in the interviews. Mark Yamaguchi confirmed his father’s
desire to share the interviews in the ranching and ‘äina mauna studies discussed, and kindly granted
permission to include the interviews in the ranch and mountain land studies on January 16, 2003.
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[discussion in progress regarding historic maps and descriptions of mountain lands] …So
I bring you maps and books instead…
Yes. It’s good to have this kind you know.
Especially for the old place names like you were saying. I brought along a copy of the
map for the Waiki‘i section, for me to mark on as well. What I was hoping was, is that we
just talk story, kolekole. It’s very important, because the land is changing. Everything is
changing and if we don’t talk story, we going lose this history.
Oh yes. Different people coming in.
That’s right, loli ka ‘äina. Uncle, your full name please.
Jiro Yamaguchi.
Yes. You hänau when
September 16, 1924, right by the Paniolo Pit Stop today.
Paniolo Pit Stop.
Where the kahawai over there, before, used to get one two story building there.
Is there a name for that area, that you remember
Yes. [thinking]
Paniolo Pit Stop, that’s…
Right by the bridge going to Kawaihae. You know, right by this junction here.
Okay, oh, right there.
The concrete bridge on the right hand side. We used to have land here too.
Oh.
My mother exchanged that with the ranch here.
Your hale here is from your time when you worked ranch, right
I just bought it in ‘72, from the ranch.
When did you start working for the ranch
In the late ‘30s.
You were a teenager still You hänau…
The day we finished 7 th grade, I came to work for the ranch.
When you were sharing with me the story before, I remember, was it your papa who died
on the mountain
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:253