Kohala Families

Makea Paao

Makea Paao was my great great grandmother Emma K. Fern's sister. According to familysearch she was born on Nov 1856. She was married to Billa/Bila/Pilla Alapai on Sept. 28, 1877, Kona, Oahu. The witnesses to the marriage were Nalua (k) & Mare Palau (w). Billa & Makea had two children I do not know the name of. Billa died on Aug. 25, 1915, Honolulu. Makea then would go on to marry Napahi Haole on May 18, 1918. The marriage was performed at Emma K. Fern's house on Hardesty St. On the marriage certificate Makea says her father is Keane and mother is Lauaihilo. Makea died on Sep 17, 1934 and her husband Napahi in 1938.  As far as I know she lived in various places from Waikiki to Hawaii Kai. 

Her father was Keoni Ailama & mother was Kauaohilo

Her great grandmother was a chiefess named Mahoe. An article appearing in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, July 11, 1959 tales of Mahoe.

The Legends of Kuapa Fishpond

Makea Napahi was living at Maunalua, Oahu in 1932 when she said her great-grandmother Mahoe was the chiefess who had built the great wall about Kuapa Fishpond. If this information is true, than it is obvious that the wall was built in the latter part of the Eighteenth century about the time the white men discovered these Islands. Mahoe had help from the Menehune when the pond wall was about half completed. They came at sunset and finished the construction in one night.. To this day, stories of Menehune in the Koko Head area continue to crop up.

KAPU OF SILENCE

If there was a lack of fish, Mahoe knew how to handle the situation. On the night of Kane, she declared a kapu of silence. Everyone had to stay within doors. She then took a pig from it's mother's womb and had her small grandson carry the squealing pig about the walls of the pond. The kapu continued on the night of Lono while a Kahuna prayed for fish. On the night of Lono, seaweed and limu were placed on the shrine. When the kapu was ended, there was many fish in the pond. Another legend says that Kuapa Pond has an underground channel which connects with the Kaelepulu pond in Kailua, Oahu. When mullet disappear from the Maunlua pond, they may be found in the Kaelepulu pond. When they reappear in Maunalua, then the awa fish disappear and may be found in Kailua. 

GUARDIAN

The mysterious behavior of the fish is accounted for by the presence of a Moo, a supernatural woman guardian of fresh water, who made her home in the pond. The Moo left the Kuapa Pond at certain times of the year to go through the underground passage to the Kailua pond, taking the mullet with her. At the proper season, she returned to Kuapa with the mullet. Her presence would be seen by the skum on the surface of the water. It resembled her long wavy hair.