A Hawaiian Historic Site
Before Kamehameha realized his dream to rule all of the Hawaiian Islands, he camped near the mouth of the Wailuku River at an area called Kaipalaoa. He told his servants to stand watch over his canoe so it would not be carried away by the tide or stolen while he went alone to visit a special friend who lived on what is now known as Reed Island.
As time passed, Kamehameha's men became worried for his safety, but they dared not leave the canoe unattended. One of the men taught the others to make a ti-lead rope by twisting the leafs together. Such twisting is called "hilo". They took this rope and tied the canoe and set out to look for Kamehameha. A short way up the river, they met Kamehameha unharmed. At first angered that his men did not keep their promise to watch the canoe, Kamehameha was surprised that they knew how to make such a rope that only people from Waipi'o knew how to do. The man who had taught the other said he came from Waipi'o. Kamehameha declared that this place be called Hilo- meaning to twist. This is the story of how Hilo received its name- at Kaipalaoa.
As time passed, Kamehameha's men became worried for his safety, but they dared not leave the canoe unattended. One of the men taught the others to make a ti-lead rope by twisting the leafs together. Such twisting is called "hilo". They took this rope and tied the canoe and set out to look for Kamehameha. A short way up the river, they met Kamehameha unharmed. At first angered that his men did not keep their promise to watch the canoe, Kamehameha was surprised that they knew how to make such a rope that only people from Waipi'o knew how to do. The man who had taught the other said he came from Waipi'o. Kamehameha declared that this place be called Hilo- meaning to twist. This is the story of how Hilo received its name- at Kaipalaoa.
Law of the Splintered Paddle
As he prepared to unite the islands of Hawaii, Kamehameha I would conduct shoreline raids on the neighboring ahupua'a (traditional land divisions). It was on one such incursion that the King's warriors encountered two local fishermen along the Puna Coast. The two fled to warn others of the pending attack and Kamehameha and his men took chase. While they crossed the lava field, the King's foot got caught in a crevice and became stuck.
The fishermen, seizing the opportunity to retaliate, returned and attacked. In the ensuing brawl, one of the King's steersmen was killed and Kamehameha himself received a blow to the head that was so hard that it splintered the man's weapon- a solid koa canoe paddle. The two Puna fishermen escaped.
Kamehameha I opted not to retaliate but instead took this as a divine lesson: the strong must not mistreat the weak, his people must be assured protection from harm's way in their pursuits and that safe passage must be everyone's entitlement. A decade later, King Kamehameha the Great, upon reflecting on his deliverance that day in Puna and on the memory of his fallen steersman, proclaimed Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe- The Law of the Splintered Paddle at Kahale'iole in the Kaipalaoa area of Hilo.
The fishermen, seizing the opportunity to retaliate, returned and attacked. In the ensuing brawl, one of the King's steersmen was killed and Kamehameha himself received a blow to the head that was so hard that it splintered the man's weapon- a solid koa canoe paddle. The two Puna fishermen escaped.
Kamehameha I opted not to retaliate but instead took this as a divine lesson: the strong must not mistreat the weak, his people must be assured protection from harm's way in their pursuits and that safe passage must be everyone's entitlement. A decade later, King Kamehameha the Great, upon reflecting on his deliverance that day in Puna and on the memory of his fallen steersman, proclaimed Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe- The Law of the Splintered Paddle at Kahale'iole in the Kaipalaoa area of Hilo.
Surf Fit for a King
One reason early Hawaiians were drawn to Hilo was its excellent surf. From Pu'u'eo to Waiakea, in Hilo Bay, there were at least eight different surf breakers that we know of today. In ancient times Hilo was noted in chants and legends as a premier surfing area. Kamehameha I often came to surf at Kaipalaoa located off the mouth of the Wailuku River at the foot of what is now Waianuenue Avenue.