Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

AhFat Lee
Recollections of Waiki‘i, Mauna Kea and Territorial Program on the ‘Äina Mauna
May 17, 2002 – with Kepä Maly (Interview No. 2)
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…You know, like we were saying yesterday, it’s so important, because your recollections,
the experiences that you’ve had, we will never see that again.
[chuckles]
You’ve been involved in many important things and I appreciate your willingness to take
the time to talk story again.
Yes, sure, no problem.
Yesterday, we were talking about your time growing up, you hänau at Hälawa.
Yes.
By the time you’re 14, I guess mama had passed away and you went to Hilo
I went to Hilo.
And then when you graduated in 1932, you went to Waiki‘i
I went Waiki‘i. Oh boy, to me, was God’s country. It still is.
Yes. Your work as you were describing at Waiki‘i. You took care, you supervised all of
the poultry operation
Yes.
And it was wonderful, your sharing the recollections of who some of the families you
know, and like you said, those old bread ovens. Two were still being used
Two were still being used while I was up there. I recall there was one more, but was kind
of broken up already, nobody was using it.
Yes.
[chuckles]
Now, yesterday I had asked a question and we, I was starting to go somewhere ‘cause
I’ve asked, if you had ever seen natural water at Waiki‘i. And you said, “No. No natural
water flowing or no spring
No, that’s right.
Your water as you had shared, A.W. Carter made the waterline yeah
Yes, all from Kohala mountain.
Yes. One of the things that I was going to ask you and let me open this up. This is
Register Map 2786, sort of the Waiki‘i area, it’s one of the Parker Ranch maps. You
showed me where the chicken, poultry farm was, and your house was near there
Yes.
And the orchard.
Yes.
Beautiful description of the old orchard. This here marks the lines where the houses, the
employees houses were. This marks the area here.
Uh-hmm.
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:385