Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

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I see. When you came here and A.W. told you, “No we going hire…
He says, “No, we don’t hire haoles, they don’t get along with the natives.” I tell him, “Why,
I get along with the guys in the County.” He said, “No.” They didn’t have no haoles
working on the ranch in those days. It was all Hawaiians, Japanese, Chinese.
Yes. So you got a job working roads with the County. You were staying down at
Wai‘aka
Yes.
That’s your mama’s…
Her aunt’s place.
Her aunt
Yes. My mom and dad’s place at Wai‘aka.
They had an old house, it was an old house in those days.
It’s still there.
Still there yet.
The house is still there
The house is salt water wood. Wood that floated in the ocean, so my grandpa built this
house.
And grandpa’s name was
John Ka‘apuni.
John Ka‘apuni.
That’s the guy that’s buried right behind the house
That’s right, buried on the lot.
The grave is right there.
I see. And is someone, family, still in that house
Yes, his grandson lives there. My sister and I live there, my son lives there, a nephew
and another nephew lives there and then...
Oh, so it’s a larger
It’s like six acres.
It’s a six acre parcel.
Uh-hmm. And we all have pieces.
I see. You were staying there working with the County on roads
You worked with my dad. Was my dad working then
No. He was cantonier with the State (Territory) at that time, and then afterwards he came
to work for Parker Ranch and he moved up to Waiki‘i then. I was still working in the
County job. They worked all year, and come the end of the year they don’t work. The
boss tells, “Hey, you got to wait till the Federal Government gives them more money.
First of the year, then you work again.” So anyway, the dad, Phillips, came down to
Waimea, stayed at the house. He said, “Boy, you come Waiki‘i stay with us a couple of
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:427