Keanakamanō, meaning “shark cave,” refers to the general vicinity above the main gate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama where a Native Hawaiian garden of the same name is located. This Keanakamanō section features brief descriptions of native plants found at the garden and some of their cultural uses. The plant descriptions have been formatted into a booklet. For easier access to individual plant information, these descriptions have been grouped alphabetically and are represented in the thumbnails below. Or, click on the following link to download the entire booklet (file size: 10.9M).
Embedded Files
Haumāna from Papa ʻElua collaborate to design a model stream and study the effects of erosion. At Keanakamanō students are asked to document and determine if their hypothesis was true. In addition, the impacts of channelization on the velocity of the stream as well as overall erosion are investigated.
Haumāna from Papa ʻElua collaborate to design a model stream and study the effects of erosion. At Keanakamanō students are asked to document and determine if their hypothesis was true. In addition, the impacts of channelization on the velocity of the stream as well as overall erosion are investigated.
Art Work from the Volcano Art Center and available for purchase. <https://volcanoartcenter.org/shop/prints/dietrich-varez-prints/pele-surfing-with-kamohoalii-m20-print-by-dietrich-varez/>
Keana Kamano
Keana Kamano
On the Kamanaiki side of the Kalihi Valley there was once a shallow cave called Keana Kamano. It was called the cave of the sharks because the big shark gods from Pearl Harbor often went there to rest.
Keana Kamano led into the fabulous underground cave believed in olden times to occupy the center of the island of Oahu.
One branch of the cave led around and under the mountains to Pearl Harbor. Another branch of the cave led to the center of the Island where there was a sacred pool for swimming.
Hawaiians living today can tell of elders who once traveled these caves and who once swam in the sacred pool. An earthquake about 1900 closed up the caves and no one has been known to travel them since.
It may be that the cave-in of the Wilson Tunnel occurred over the old lava tube leading to Pearl Harbor. (Taylor, 1954)
The shark referred to is Kamohoali‘i, king of the sharks, who is the older brother of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. On the long trip of Pele’s family to Hawai‘i, it was Kamohoali‘i who acted as the navigator. Don Mitchell, who said that earthquakes in 1900 caused the collapse of the cave (1993:146), states: His [Kamohoali‘i] favorite pastime was to swim through the extensive water filled lava tubes or tunnels that extended from Pearl Harbor to areas under Kalihi Valley. As the tunnels rose above sea level, he assumed his human form and walked to his cave, Keanakamanō, on Kapālama Heights. (Sterling and Summers 1978:323). From An Ethnohistorical Study of Kapālama Ahupuaʻa: 16.
Page updated
Report abuse