Through the Lens of the ‘Ili Kūpono: Re-establishing Connections to Pi‘opi‘o, Waiākea, Hilo, Hawai‘i Through Ethnohistory, Archaeology and Community

Abstract

This thesis takes an in-depth look at the Hawaiian cultural history of the ‘ili kūpono of Pi‘opi‘o located in the ahupua‘a of Waiākea, Hilo, Hawai‘i. This research draws from ethnohistorical accounts written in both the Hawaiian and the English languages. These narratives are employed as a means to understand the function of the ‘ili kūpono land division and its association to Hawai‘i Island’s chiefly class. Nineteenth-century Māhele records and Boundary Commission Testimonies offer a glimpse into the life of the maka‘āinana (commoners) who utilized both land and marine resources for their survival. Although anchored in the distant past, this study also demonstrates historical continuity by employing an Indigenous framework to begin the process of rebuilding a community- one that advocates for the preservation of Pi‘opi‘o’s heritage. Through community outreach efforts, the ethnohistorical record is complimented with aspects of oral history and archaeology as a way to enhance our understanding and connection to this unassuming place we know as Pi‘opi‘o.