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Peelua Huaka'i Locations
Aloha! There are many site on Moloka'i that are specific to our 'ohana and genealogy. Here are a few sites that we have plans to visit during the reunion.
Pu'upe'elua
In Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi, we will visit Puʻupeʻelua, a hill rich with legend and family history. This wahi pana (sacred place) tells the story of Kaheana, a chief’s daughter, who fell in love with a mysterious man later revealed to be a kupua—a shapeshifter who became a giant caterpillar by day and a man by night. When his secret was discovered, he was destroyed, but from him came the countless caterpillars, or peʻelua, that gave this place its name. To this day, Puʻupeʻelua and the surrounding lands remain tied to the Peelua ʻohana, whose ʻaumākua (family guardians) are the caterpillar, the okaʻi moth, and the loli sea cucumber. This visit connects us to both the landscape and the living traditions of the families who descend from this powerful story.
Kapuaiwa/ Coconut Grove
Kapuāiwa Coconut Grove on Molokaʻi is the royal grove of King Kamehameha V (Lot Kapuāiwa), planted in the 1860s to honor the king and his warriors. This nearly 10-acre beachfront grove was originally planted with 1,000 coconut trees, one for each warrior in his army. Today it remains one of the last royal coconut groves and is considered by many to be sacred, filled with hundreds of trees and freshwater springs.
Coconut palms usually live for 60 to 80 years, and more than half of the grove has been replanted at least three times—yet some of the original trees still stand as living monuments to Hawaiian heritage. Nearby, the peaceful shores of Kiowea Beach Park provide the perfect setting for family laughter and connection. Together, these sacred spaces—one whispering with ancestral wisdom, the other alive with joyful moments—will frame our reunion with both meaning and aloha, creating new memories while honoring generations past.
Mapulehu / Kaoio
The Mapulehu and Kaoio areas are located on the southeastern portion of Molokaʻi, a region known for its fertile watersheds, historic sites, and lush vegetation that continue to sustain both the land and the people.
Kaoio, situated on Molokaʻi’s east end, is both a small community and a landmark on the island’s eastern coastline. It is a place where mountain meets sea, reflecting the traditional Hawaiian land division of ahupuaʻa—a system in which upland forests, agricultural lands, and fishing grounds were carefully managed in balance to support thriving communities.
This cherished ʻohana photo of the Leonui family was taken at Kaoio, in front of the family home, on lands once held by the ʻohana from the mountain all the way to the sea.
The Tomb Of Makaweliweli
The Tomb of Tutu Makaweliweli and Heiau Kapualei
Located on the eastern side of Kapualei Gulch, this sacred area holds both the tomb of Tutu Kaʻakau Makaweliweli and the historic Heiau Kapualei. The heiau features a small walled structure with two compartments, where Kaʻakau Makaweliweli once kept the gods Pua and Kapo.
On the mauka side stands a raised rock platform, about 20 x 20 feet, where Kaʻakau Makaweliweli sat to teach and meditate. The surrounding area was divided into spaces for novices, who lived and learned there, and an upper area reserved for more advanced students.
Upon her passing in 1840, a tomb was built for Kaʻakau Makaweliweli on the upper level near the novice area. Surrounding her tomb are the graves of some of her students and family members, who chose to remain near her in death as they had in life.
Kaluaʻaha Church
Our family helped build the Kaluaʻaha Church which was the first Christian church built on Molokaʻi, established in 1832 under Reverend H.R. Hitchcock and his wife with the support of Hoapili-wahine, widow of Kamehameha I. With the help of Native Hawaiians, the coral blocks were hauled from the shore by oxen and men, and by 1835 the first structure was completed. Over time, the church grew and became the mother church of Molokaʻi, serving as the center of Congregational activity for the island.
The building itself is remarkable: constructed with fieldstone walls plastered on both sides, about 40 inches thick and nearly 20 feet high, reinforced with exterior buttresses. Concrete facing was added around 1917. Architecturally, Kaluaʻaha Church remains a significant monument for its size, craftsmanship, and unique features, standing as both a spiritual and cultural landmark in Molokaʻi’s history.
Kawela Sites / Gravesites
Kawela: One of Hawaiʻi’s Earliest Habitations and a Sacred ʻĀina
Studies show that Kawela Molokaʻi is among the earliest known habitations in Hawaiʻi. Radiocarbon dating places the site as early as the 1100s–1200s, nearly 900 years ago. This challenges older theories that Hawaiians first settled only the fertile windward valleys; instead, Kawela proves that even the leeward, drier coastlines were thriving centers of life during early colonization.
Archaeological layers at Kawela reveal eight centuries of continuous occupation, with evidence of houses, earth ovens, stone tools, animal bones, shellfish, and cultivated foods like taro and sweet potato. These findings illustrate not only daily life but also Kawela Stream’s once-thriving ecosystem. The site acts as a “time capsule” of Molokaʻi’s environment and community from the 12th century onward.
The hillsides hold archaeological treasures, including heiau, burial mounds, agricultural terraces, and habitation sites—21 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At Kawela, we will visit the gravesites of our ʻohana Peelua, laid to rest on this sacred hillside. This wahi pana also holds the burials of the Maunaloa ʻohana, on land later acquired by the Kamakana family. Here stands the graves of mighty kahuna, together with the family compound of Kaiakea—a place that connects us directly to our ancestors and their enduring legacy on Molokaʻi.
Ka Ule O Nanahoa / Pala'au Lookout
High above Kaunakakai at the Pālāʻau State Park Lookout, visitors enjoy sweeping views of the Kalaupapa Peninsula and Molokaʻi’s dramatic northern cliffs. Just a short walk away is the legendary stone Kā Ule o Nanahoa (“the penis of Nanahoa”), tied to one of Molokaʻi’s oldest fertility traditions. According to moʻolelo, Nanahoa was a giant kupua (supernatural being) whose stone phallus became a place of prayer. Couples seeking children would visit this site, chant, and leave offerings, asking for the blessing of fertility and family.
Together, the lookout and Ka Ule o Nanahoa remind us of Molokaʻi’s deep connections between landscape, moʻolelo, and the life-giving forces that have sustained generations.
St Joseph’s Mission Church in Kamalo
Built in 1876 by Father Damien, just two years after he completed the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church, St. Joseph Church is the third oldest church on Molokaʻi. Located in Kamalō, it still stands today as a mission church. Though the door is often closed, it is not locked, and visitors may step inside to experience its simple beauty and history. Recognized on the Hawaiʻi Register of Historic Places, St. Joseph remains a quiet monument to Father Damien’s enduring legacy and the faithful communities of Molokaʻi. There lies a grave stone marker for Kupuna Kailiohe upon her initial place of burial.
Cemeteries
Heading 6
Kanakaloloa
Cemetery
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