‘Heal the battlefield’: Marines, volunteers work to restore historic Kuamoo

KUAMOO — After the end of the kapu system in 1819, Hawaiian traditionalists led by Kekuaokalani marched north from Kaawaloa, meeting the monarchy’s forces led by Kalanimoku at Lekeleke, south of Keauhou.

More than 300 people were killed in one day of fighting, which ended in a victory for the monarchy forces, who were aided by a swivel gun mounted on a double-hulled canoe, said Richard Stevens, a lecturer at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui.

Today, visitors to the site can still see the lava rock terraces in which fallen warriors were buried.

In recent years, the nonprofit group Aloha Kuamoo Aina has undertaken efforts to preserve the historic site. Those efforts continued Wednesday, when dozens of Marines and sailors from Marine Corps Base Kaneohe and other volunteers arrived at Kuamoo to assist in planting native species and restoring a portion of the historic trail.

Their mission, Stevens told them, was to bring alive an ancient trail and “to heal the battlefield.”

“And you’ll be doing part of that with the kind of planting that you’re doing, getting Hawaiian plants back in the landscape again and part of it just by the vibrations and the feelings that you put into being here today,” he said.

Prior to their arrival, Stevens said the undertaking to restore the area is very much a spiritual activity.

“The past helps to inform our present and guide us into the future, and what we learn from the past is we need to take care of the Earth,” he said. “And that includes culture; really, culture and nature were not separate in ancient Hawaii, so the two of them really blend so perfectly in this project.”

Wednesday’s volunteers also included eight people from Wyndham as part of the company’s wish day program.

“Being in the hospitality industry, people come to Hawaii because of the amazing natural beauty,” said Linda Kolstad, director of association governance. “To be able to support the efforts in restoring a historic area helps make Hawaii an even more interesting place for our owners and guests to visit.”

In total, volunteers planted 105 trees, including hala, ohai, and 13 other species.

Before leading the volunteers to the site, Stevens encouraged the Marines to consider to whom they’d want to dedicate the trees they’re planting.

“Think of the ancestors, think of fallen comrades, whoever you want,” he said at the entrance to the burial grounds. “You don’t need to tell us who it is, but I want you to hold them in your mind because you want them to be part of this also.”

With that, Stevens led the group past Lekeleke and toward Kuamoo, retracing the route of the battle.

About half a mile down the Ala Kahakai, some volunteers were already busy putting new trees into the ground.

There, Aloha Kuamoo Aina Program Director Monika Frazier recalled the last words of Manono, Kekuaokalani’s wife, who died during the battle fighting alongside her husband.

“Her last words were said to be ‘Malama ko aloha,’ and what that means is to keep your love,” Frazier told the volunteers. “So she really wanted everyone who was surviving this war to not hold any grudges against each other and remember that they’re all family.”

That concept, she said, is something the organization wants to perpetuate through efforts to preserve the area.

“We’re really glad to have you guys here to get that message and participate in all of this to, kind of, malama your guys’ aloha and share it with everyone,” she said.

Volunteers also worked to clear rocks from a portion of the Ala Kahakai which runs through Kuamoo.

Lt. Col. Ben Harrison, battalion commander of the 1st Battalion 12th Marines, said he wants those who assisted on Wednesday to come away with “a better understanding of service.”

“In our corps values of honor, courage and commitment, the center-point is really service,” he said. “So whether you’re in it for four years or 40 years, the decision to sign away your life in essence and commit to something bigger than yourself is all about serving.”

Also important, he said, is developing a sense of family and camaraderie within the unit.

“We want them to be able to have an appreciation for the Hawaiian culture,” he added. “We talk a lot about being an ohana – well, what’s that mean? – and that expands beyond our unit, beyond our Marine Corps to the people around us, the culture around us.”