Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #2

Waikiki
Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #2
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This site is located in Kuhio Beach Park, Honolulu, Hawaii. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 21° 16.290 W 157° 49.370. There are twenty other markers on the Waikiki Historic Trail.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

Waikiki means "spouting water" because it was a vast marshland fed by man streams. You are in fact standing on what was the mouth of an old stream, the Kuekanunahi. From ancient times Waikiki has been a popular surfing spot which is one of the reasons why the chiefs made their homes and headquarters here for hundreds of years. Though it's been called "the sport of kings," everyone surfed. Surf spots had their special names and the most famous in Waikiki was Kalehuawehe or "take off the lehua." It was so named when a legendary hero took off his lie of lehua blossoms and gave it to the wife of the ruling chief with whom he was surfing. Romance and surfing often went together.

Believe or not, by 1900 surfing had nearly died out in Hawaii partly because of missionary opposition to the sport which took people away from worship and other religious obligations. Waikiki has some of the best summer waves in the world. The swells vary in height from 2 to 8 feet and on rare occasions, have reached as high as 35 feet. A ride can easily extend a hundred yards or so. The longest ride recorded took place in 1917 when the great Duke Kahanamoku caught a 35-foot wave and rode it to shore, a distance of a mile and a quarter.

Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #6

The Stones of Life
Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #6
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This site is located at 2425 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 21° 16.550 W 157° 49.542. There are twenty other markers on the Waikiki Historic Trail.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

The Stones of Life

Legend says these stones are the living legacy of four powerful Tahitian healers who

once resided near this site at a place called Ulukou. From the court of the Tahitian chief

the names of the four were Kapaemahu, Kahaloa, Kapuni and Kinohi. They came from

Moa'ulanuiakea on the island of Raiatea long before the reign of Kakuhikewa, beloved

Oahu chief during the 1500's.

The fame of the healers spread as they traveled throughout the islands administering

their miraculous cures. When it was times to return to Raiatea, they asked that two stones

be placed at their Ulukou residence and two at their favorite bathing place in the sea. Four

huge stones were quarried from Kaimuki, and on the night of "Kane" thousands transported

the stones to Ulukou. Incntations, fasting and prayers lasted a full cycle of the moon. The

healers then gave their names and mana (spiritual power) to the stones before departing for

their homeland.

Pipi Holo Ka'ao

(Sprinkled, the tale runs)

In 1997, the stones were raised onto a paepae (stone platform), and an ahu (altar) and

fence were built to honor and protect them. The largest stone was estimated to weigh 7.5

tons. As part of the project ceremonies, Tahitians from Raiatea presented a stone from the

healers' homeland which they named Ta'ahu Ea (the life).

These ancient stones are part of the spiritual history of Waikiki and the native Hawaiian

people. They remind us of the need to preserve and honor Hawaii's unique heritage for

generations to come.

Department of Parks and Recreation

City and County of Honolulu

1997

Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #5

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku
Waikiki Historic Trail Marker #5
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This site is located at 2413 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 21° 16.540 W 157° 49.520. There are twenty other markers on the Waikiki Historic Trail.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968

Raised in Waikiki, Duke was a full-blooded Hawaiian, who symbolized Hawaii to millions of people. He developed into an Olympic champion and the world’s fastest swimmer. Between 1912 and

1932 he won three gold medals, two silver and a bronze in four Olympics. He is known as the 

“Father of International Surfing.”

Duke introduced surfing to the Eastern Seaboard of America, Europe and Australia. He became a hero when he saved eight lives from a capsized launch at Corona Del Mar, California in 1925 using his surfboard. A movie actor from 1925-1933, he was elected sheriff of Honolulu for thirteen consecutive terms from 1934-1960. He has been recognized as Hawaii’s Ambassador of Aloha since 1962.

“He has honored his name, he has honored his race, he has honored his state, he has honored us all.”