Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15,

2006, Kïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes

and Recovery Efforts

Data Series 506

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
COVER:  Aerial view of the

extensive Kohala Ditch trail

system, sections of which have

been completely filled with debris

from rock slides. The trail, once

used by residents to transport

goods in and out of the valley

by mule, zigzags up the walls of

the East Branch of Honokäne

Nui Valley (NorthKohala District,

north Hawai‘i, 20.19675°N,

155.71975°W; view to the

southeast). USGS photoby E.L.

Harp, November 8, 2006.

Twenty-four-hour-long seismograph record (15 minutes per rotation) shows the trace of the October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bayand Mähukona earthquakes, South Kohala District, northwest Hawai‘i. The M 6.7, 39-km-deep Kïholo Bay earthquake(19.878°N, 155.935°W) occurred at 7:07 a.m., HST, and the M 6.0, 9-km-deep Mähukona earthquake, 28 km north-northwestof Kïholo Bay (20.129°N, 155.983°W), occurred 6 minutes, 24 seconds later, at 7:14 a.m., HST. The onset of the Kïholo Bayearthquake is at the minute mark to the left, and the onset of the Mähukona earthquake is at the center of the record. Thetrace of a large aftershock can be seen to the right. Numerous smaller aftershocks occurred after the larger quakes.
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 

2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes 

and Recovery Efforts

By Taeko Jane Takahashi, Nancy A. Ikeda, Paul G. Okubo, Maurice K. Sako, 

David C. Dow, Anna M. Priester, and Nolan A. Steiner

Data Series 506

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011

This report and any updates to it are available online at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/506/

For product and ordering information:

World Wide Web: http//www.usgs.gov/pubprod

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth,

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Takahashi, T.J., Ikeda, N.A., Okubo, P.G., Sako, M.K., Dow, D.C., Priester, A.M., and Steiner, N.A., 2011.

Selected images of the effects of the October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, earthquakes and

recovery efforts: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 506.
iii

Contents

Seismic Overview of the Earthquakes—by P.G. Okubo.................................................................................... 1

Overview of Selected Sites—by T.J. Takahashi ................................................................................................ 7

Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................... 11

References ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

Glossary of Hawaiian Words .......................................................................................................................... 15

Appendix  Earthquake reports received via the USGS Community Internet Intensity Map (see linked file

http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/506/ds506_appendix_a.txt)

Figures

1. Recent earthquakes in Hawai‘i......................................................................................................... 2

2. Peak horizontal ground accelerations .............................................................................................. 3

3 Frequency of magnitude 6.0 earthquakes........................................................................................ 3

4. USGS Community Internet Intensity Map ........................................................................................ 4

5. Community decimal intensity (CDI) by location................................................................................ 5

6. October 15, 2006, earthquake damage assessment ....................................................................... 6

7. Google Earth map of selected sites, Island of Hawai‘i ..................................................................... 7

8. Overview map of selected sites, Island of Hawai‘i............................................................................ 8

Table

1. Site locations, with coordinates and distances from the Kïholo Bay epicenter, Island of Hawai‘i... 10
iv

Photographs

(see linked files at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/506/ds-506_photographs/)

Site No. Site Location

1. Laupähoehoe Gulch, Laupähoehoe, Highway 19, North Hilo District

2. Kawäili Bridge, Pa‘auilo, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

3. St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pa‘auilo, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

4. Pa‘auilo Hongwanji Mission and Cemetery, Pa‘auilo, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

5. Shingon-shu Pa‘auilo Kongoji, Pa‘auilo, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

6. Kalöpä Cemetery, Kalöpä Highway 19, Hämäkua District

7. Kalöpä Mauka (“Sand Gulch”) Road, Kalöpä, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

8. Honoka‘a High School, Honoka‘a, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

9. Hale Ho‘öla Hämäkua, Honoka‘a, Highway 19, Hämäkua District

10. Waipi‘o Valley, Hämäkua District

11. Coastline, ‘Äinahou debris fan, Hämäkua District

12. Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District

13. Coastline, Laupähoehoe Iki to Laupähoehoe Nui debris fans, Hämäkua District

14. Coastline, Laupähoehoe Nui debris fan to Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District

15. Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District

16. Honoke‘ä Valley, Hämäkua-North Kohala District boundary

17. Coastline, Honopue Valley to ‘Äko‘ako‘a Point, Hämäkua and North Kohala Districts

18. Honokäne Nui Valley, North Kohala District

19. Pololü Valley and Pololü Valley Lookout, North Kohala District

19A. Pololü Valley

19B. Pololü Valley Lookout, Niuli‘i, Highway 270

20. Këökea Park Road intersection to Waikani Gulch bridge, Makapala, Highway 270, North Kohala

District

21. Këökea Beach Park, Makapala, Highway 270, North Kohala District

21A. Këökea Beach

21B. Këökea Beach Park gazebo

21C. Këökea Beach Park pavilion

22. Makapala Chapel, Makapala, Highway 270, North Kohala District

23. Püwä‘i‘ole Gulch, Makapala, Highway 270, North Kohala District

24. Kalähikiola Congregational Church, Kapa‘au, Highway 270, North Kohala District

25. Lapakahi State Historical Park, Mähukona, Highway 270, North Kohala District

26. Honokoa Bridge, Mähukona, Highway 270, South Kohala District

27. Honokoa Gulch culvert, Mähukona, Highway 270, South Kohala District

28. North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor, Kawaihae, Highway 270, South Kohala District

29. Kawaihae Pier, Kawaihae, Highway 270, South Kohala District

30. Pu‘ukoholä Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Highway 270, South Kohala District

31. Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway road cut, Puakö, Highway 19, South Kohala District

32. Moku‘aikaua Church, Kailua-Kona, Highway 11, North Kona District

33. Hulihe‘e Palace, Kailua-Kona, Highway 11, North Kona District

34. Hölualoa Catholic Cemetery, Hölualoa, Highway 180, North Kona District

35. Kona Community Hospital, Kealakekua, Highway 11, South Kona District

36. Kealakekua Bay, Kealakekua, Highway 11, South Kona District
Seismic Overview of the Earthquakes

By Paul G. Okubo

Early on the morning of October 15, 2006, two moderate earthquakes—the largest in decades—struck the Island of 

Hawai‘i. The first of these, which occurred at 7:07 a.m., HST 

(1707 UTC), was a magnitude (M)6.7 earthquake, centered 

beneath Kïholo Bay on the northwestern coast of the island 

(19.878°N, 155.935°W), at a depth of 39 km. The second 

earthquake, which struck 6 minutes, 24 seconds later, at 7:14 

a.m., HST (1714 UTC), was located 28 km to the northnorthwest of Kïholo Bay (20.129°N, 155.983°W), centered 

at a depth of 19 km. This M6.0 earthquake has since been 

referred to as the Mähukona earthquake. Losses from the 

combined effects of these earthquakes are estimated to be 

$200 million—the most costly events, by far, in Hawai‘i’s 

earthquake history.

Figure 1 shows the epicenters of these earthquakes 

and the first few days of aftershocks from October 2006, as 

posted on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Hawaiian 

Volcano Observatory’s earthquakes page on the World Wide 

Web (http://tux.wr.usgs.gov). To date, the largest aftershock 

was a M5.0 earthquake that occurred on November 23, 2007. 

The aftershock sequence from the Kïholo Bay earthquake 

continued through 2008. Analysis of earthquake locations 

and source mechanisms suggests that the M6.7 Kïholo Bay 

mainshock ruptured a deep fault plane that extends westnorthwest from the coastline beneath the bay and dips to 

the south (Yamada and others, 2008). Stress modeling of 

the response of a lithospheric plate due to volcanic loading 

shows the Kïholo Bay and Mähukona earthquakes to be consistent with downward flexing of a layered lithospheric plate 

(McGovern, 2007).

Since 1973, the USGS has operated accelerographs in 

Hawai‘i to record strong ground motions of potential engineering interest. Some of these instruments were upgraded in 

1999 from their original photographic film-based recording 

systems, to telemeter digital strong-motion recordings. Following the earthquakes, the upgraded stations automatically 

transmitted their recordings to the USGS National Strong 

Motion Data Center in Menlo Park, California, operated by 

the USGS National Strong Motion Project (NSMP). Records 

from instruments still using photographic film were retrieved 

by NSMP personnel in the weeks following the October 

earthquakes and subsequently were developed and digitized 

for data reduction and analysis. At the same time, some 

stations were upgraded with units capable of onsite digitization. Since the October 2006 earthquakes, all USGS NSMP 

instruments in Hawai‘i have been upgraded with digital 

recorders and connected by using modems and telephone 

circuits to automatically transmit their records to the NSMP 

Data Center (E. Anjal, written commun., 2007).

The strongest ground accelerations from the October 15 

earthquakes were recorded at stations on the northwestern part 

of the Island of Hawai‘i (fig. 2 and table 1). The distribution 

of peak ground accelerations, as presented in figure 2, reflects 

the effect of local site conditions at the recording-instrument 

locations and the amplitude of seismic waves at that distance 

from the hypocenter. In Hawai‘i, site amplifications of seismic 

ground motion have been closely linked to the presence of 

volcanic ash deposits (Munson and Thurber, 1997). Although 

not the closest station to the Kïholo Bay earthquake, the accelerograph at the Waimea Fire Station, underlain by volcanic ash 

deposits, recorded the highest peak accelerations in the entire 

data set. The effects of site conditions are also seen at sites in 

Hilo, where data reflect relative amplification of recorded peak 

accelerations, depending upon whether the stations are located 

on volcanic ash or on hard rock.

Alhough infrequent, damage and other effects of moderate 

and larger earthquakes in Hawai‘i have been recorded for nearly 

200 years. The effects of some 59 moderate and larger earthquakes (magnitudes 6 and above) have been recorded since written accounts of earthquake damage were first kept in Hawai‘i in 

1823 (Wyss and Koyanagi, 1992). The largest earthquake ever 

recorded in Hawai‘i occurred on April 2, 1868; its magnitude 

was estimated to be 7.9. The October 15, 2006, earthquake was 

the largest to occur in Hawai‘i in 23 years (fig. 3).

Using information submitted on the Internet by the general 

public, the USGS has developed a means of collecting and posting reports of earthquakes as USGS Community Internet Intensity Maps (CIIM) (Wald and others, 1999). If an earthquake is 

felt, individuals may file reports on the effects of the quake at 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi. Contributors reply to a 

list of standard questions used to determine earthquake intensity. 

Reports are then compiled and presented in maps, according to 

postal zip code and Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) per zip 

code. The intensities displayed on the maps represent average 

Modified Mercalli Intensity (Wood and Neumann, 1931; Richter, 1958) for these communities or zip codes (see appendix; see 

linked file http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/506/ds506_appendix_a.txt)

Figure 4 shows the CIIM posted after the October 15, 

2006, Kïholo Bay earthquake, which was felt across the entire 

State of Hawaii. The strongest individual earthquake effects 
2 Seismic Overview of the Earthquakes 

Figure 1.  U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, October 27, 2006, Web page of recent earthquakes

showing the October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay and Mähukona, Hawai‘i, earthquakes.
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 23

were reported as CDI IX, from the Kohala, Hämäkua, and 

Kona Districts on the northern and western parts of the Island 

of Hawai‘i. The close timing and proximity of the Kïholo 

Bay mainshock and the subsequent Mähukona earthquake did 

not allow for a clear separation between reports of the effects 

of the two earthquakes, and a CIIM for the M6.0 Mähukona 

earthquake was not produced.

In the earthquakes’ aftermaths, the County of Hawaii 

received many requests from homeowners for assessments of 

earthquake-generated building damage. In response to these 

requests, the Hawaii County Department of Public Works 

adopted the ATC-20 rapid evaluation procedure (Applied 

Technology Council, 2005). Nearly 2,000 homes were damaged, and 10 destroyed, by the effects of the earthquakes. 

Inspectors and engineers from the Hawaii County Department 

of Public Works coordinated and directed teams of engineers 

comprised of volunteer engineers (many flown in from other 

Hawaiian islands) to conduct the ATC-20 evaluations in a 

timely manner. 

Figure 5 is the deaggregated CIIM, which shows the 

variability of reported earthquake effects across the county. 

156°15' 156°00' 155°15' 155°30' 155°15' 155°00' 154°45'

18°45' 18°45'

19°00' 19°00'

19°15' 19°15'

19°30' 19°30'

19°45' 19°45'

20°00' 20°00'

20°15' 20°15'

20°30' 20°30'

25 km

156°15' 156°00' 155°15' 155°30' 155°15' 155°00' 154°45'

184

268

1030

508

197

312

229

640

253

350

58

76

232

176

58

64

123

83

http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/data_sets/20061015_1707.html

M6.0

M6.7

Peak horizontal ground accelerations recorded from 

15-OCT-2006 M6.7 Kïholo Bay earthquake

accelerations shown in units of cm/s/s

Figure 2.  Map showing peak horizontal accelerations recorded

during the October 15, 2006, M 6.7 Kïholo Bay, Hawai‘i, earthquake.

Data are from the U.S. Geological Survey National Strong Motion

Project (http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/data_sets/20061015_1707.html).

Figure 3.  Earthquakes in Hawai‘i of magnitude 6 or greater,

1823–present, adapted from figure 51 of Wyss and Koyanagi, 1992,

Isoseismal maps, macroseismic epicenters, and estimated magnitudes

of historic earthquakes in the Hawaiian Islands, U.S. Geological Survey

Bulletin 2006.

The pattern of individual earthquake reports is somewhat 

reflective of the home damage assessments resulting from the 

ATC-20 inspections.

Of the nearly 1,700 homes inspected, approximately 

1,000 were evaluated during the first week after the mainshock. Sixty-seven of the 1,000 homes were determined to 

be unsafe to enter or occupy and received the ATC-20 red-tag 

designation. Another 227 homes received the ATC-20 yellowtag designation allowing restricted entry, occupancy, and lawful use. The remaining homes were considered safe to occupy. 

The ATC-20 evaluations clearly reflected particular vulnerability of wooden homes with single-wall construction to strong 

shaking as a result of earthquakes. Figure 6 is a map, provided 

by the County of Hawaii, showing locations of the red- and 

yellow-tagged homes.

Following the 2006 earthquakes, the Department of 

Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA) responded quickly and dispatched teams to 

the affected areas. In addition to disaster relief and recovery, 

FEMA enabled detailed voluntary inspections and assessments 

of residential damage and, subsequently, prescribed retrofits 
4 Seismic Overview of the Earthquakes 

Figure 4. U.S. Geological Survey Community Internet Intensity Map for the October 15, 2006, M 6.7 Kïholo Bay,

Hawai‘i earthquake.

to harden structures against the impact of earthquakes. The 

agency has supported technical efforts to better understand 

observed earthquake effects and to promote mitigation against 

future damaging earthquakes in the State of Hawaii.

A geotechnical project was initiated on the Island of 

Hawai‘i to help interpret the patterns of strong ground shaking 

and ground failure following the earthquakes. Using a truckbased controlled seismic source, surveys of seismic wave speeds 

were done at locations of NSMP strong-motion recorders and 

the State of Hawaii’s Kawaihae Harbor port facility. In addition to the basic geotechnical data, the results of these surveys 

will be incorporated into updated calculations of probabilistic 

seismic hazards in Hawai‘i.

Although the vast majority of earthquakes in the State of 

Hawaii are closely related to the active volcanism associated 

with the southeastern part of the Island of Hawai‘i, the October 

2006 Kïholo Bay and Mähukona earthquakes clearly suggest the 

devastating potential of deeper lithospheric earthquakes. Large 

earthquakes thought to be nearly M 7 have struck near the islands 

of Läna‘i (1871) and Maui (1938). It is thought that these, like 

the 2006 earthquakes, were deep lithospheric flexure earthquakes 

(Wyss and Koyanagi, 1992; Klein and others, 2001). Thus, it 

is important to recognize the potential seismic hazard posed by 

such earthquakes beneath the older Hawaiian Islands. The data 

and observations afforded by the 2006 earthquakes promise to 

improve probabilistic seismic hazards modeling in Hawai‘i.
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 45

Figure 5.  Individually computed Community Decimal Intensities, CDI, compiled from reports posted to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Community

Internet Intensity Maps Web site after the M 6.7 Kïholo Bay and M 6.0 Mähukona earthquakes of October 15, 2006. No attempts were made to

discriminate between reports from one or the other earthquake because the events occurred within minutes of each other.

M6.0

M6.7

Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) by Location

October 15, 2006, M6.7 Kiholo Bay and M6.0 Mahukona Earthquakes

CDI

0 - 1

1 - 2

2 - 3

3 - 4

4 - 5

5 - 6

6 - 7

7 - 8

8 - 9

9 - 10

N

0 105 20 Kilometers

0 5 10 20 Miles
6 Seismic Overview of the Earthquakes 

Figure 6.  Map showing locations of homes in Hawaii County assigned red and yellow tags following ATC-20 post-earthquake assessments.

M6

M6.7

0 105 20 Kilometers

0 5 10 20 Miles

N
Overview of Selected Sites

By Taeko Jane Takahashi

The effects of the October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay-Mähukona earthquakes are shown in images taken from the coastal 

route along the northern half of the Island of Hawai‘i, where 

damage was the most concentrated. The direction of presentation is counter-clockwise, from Pa‘auilo on the eastern or 

windward (Hämäkua) side to Kealakekua Bay on the western 

or leeward (Kona) side. A list of sites, their locations, coordinates, and distance from the epicenter at Kïholo Bay are given 

in table 1. A Google Earth map (fig. 7) and a topographic map 

(fig. 8) pinpoint the 36 sites where damage was documented and 

digital images were compiled for this collection.

The selection of sites was based on access, where photographing was not a problem, such as parks and roadways, 

or where permission to photograph was granted, such as 

churches, museums, and schools. Areas of restricted access or 

those that were hazardous to photograph, such as dams and 

cliffs, and sites that were on private property, such as businesses and residences, were not included.

The photographs constitute a partial record of the damage 

and, where pertinent, recovery and restoration at selected sites. 

With limited person resources, around-the-island coverage in the 

days immediately following the earthquakes was not feasible; 

however, owing to the lengthy process of recovery, and delays 

prior to the start of repair work at many of the sites, photo documentation could continue long after the event occurred.

The types of damage photographed include natural and 

manmade effects, both major and minor, showing evidence 

of the direction and result of movement in concrete bridges 

Figure 7.  Site locations on Google Earth map, from site 1, Pa‘auilo to the northeast, to site 36,

Kealakekua Bay to the southwest, going counter-clockwise around the northern half of the Island of Hawai‘i.

The earthquake epicenters and geographic features mentioned in the text are identified, and figures 2, 5,

and 6 from the Seismic Overview section of this report have been adapted and overlain on the map.

and buildings, cemeteries 

and churches, mortared and 

stacked stone walls, roadways, 

embankments, cliffs, and 

slopes that altered the face of 

the Island of Hawai‘i. In order 

to provide a visual understanding of the extent or nature 

of the damage, photographs 

selected include broad overviews, mid-range perspectives, 

and close-ups of the sites.

The images are in the 

public domain and may be 

used without permission. The 

USGS, however, does not 

assume responsibility for any 

modifications that change the 

nature, intent, or color rendition of the original photographs. The purpose of the 

photographs was to represent 

the events as naturally as possible, including the grays of 

weathered basaltic rocks, the 

brownish-greens of vegetation, 

and the deep blues of Hawai‘i’s 

skies—all colored by the light 

(often filtered through passing 

rain clouds) that shines variably down on Hawai‘i.
8 Overview of Selected Sites 

29. Kawaihae Pier

21. Këökea Beach Park

26. Honokoa Bridge

19B. Pololü Valley

17. ‘Äko‘ako‘a Point

15. Honopue Valley

12. Waimanu Valley

10. Waipi‘o Valley

16. Honoke‘ä Valley

11. ‘Äinahou debris fan

18. Honokäne Nui Valley

8. H

27. Honokoa Gulch culvert

19A. Pololü Valley Lookout

4. Pa‘auilo Hongwanji Mission and Ce

36. Kealakekua Bay

13. Laupähoehoe Iki debris fan

14. Laupähoehoe Nui debris fan

33. Hulihe‘e Palace, 

Kailua-Kona

9. Hale 

32. Moku‘aikaua Church, Kailua-Kona

30. Pu‘ukoholä Heiau NHS, Kawaihae

25. Lapakahi State Historical Park

31. Queen Ka‘ahumanu 

Highway road cut

24. Kalähikiola Congregational Church, Kapa‘au

35. Kona Community Hospital, Kealakekua

34. Hölualoa Catholic Cemetery

M5.0

M6.0

M6.7

22. Makapala Chapel

20. Këökea-Niuli‘i Road

23. Püwä‘i‘ole Gulch, Makapala

5. Shingon-shu 

28. North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor 

Ov

October 15

0 94.5 18 27 Kilometers

0 4.5 9 18 27 Miles

N
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 89

6. Kalöpä Cemetery

Honoka‘a High School

emetary 2. Kawäili Bridge, Pa‘auilo

7. Kalöpä Mauka (”Sand Gulch”) Road

1. Laupähoehoe Gulch, south end 1. Laupähoehoe Gulch, north end

e Ho‘öla Hämäkua, Honoka‘a

 Pa‘auilo Kongoji

3. St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pa‘auilo

erview Map of Selected Sites

5, 2006, Kïholo Bay and Mähukona Earthquakes,

Island of Hawai‘i

Figure 8.  Locations of selected sites on topographic map, from

site 1, Pa‘auilo to the northeast, to site 36, Kealakekua Bay to the

southwest, going counter-clockwise around the northern half of the

Island of Hawai‘i.

Selected Sites, October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay and 

Mähukona Earthquakes, Island of Hawai‘i

1. Laupähoehoe Gulch, north and south end

2. Kawäili Bridge, Pa‘auilo

3. St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pa‘auilo

4. Pa‘auilo Hongwanji Mission and Cemetery

5. Shingon-shu Pa‘auilo Kongoji

6. Kalöpä Cemetery

7. Kalöpä Mauka (“Sand Gulch”) Road

8. Honoka‘a High School

9. Hale Ho‘öla Hämäkua, Honoka‘a

10. Waipi‘o Valley

11. ‘Äinahou debris fan

12. Waimanu Valley

13. Laupähoehoe Iki

14. Laupähoehoe Nui

15. Honopue Valley

16. Honoke‘ä Valley

17. ‘Äko‘ako‘a Point

18. Honokäne Nui Valley

19A. Pololü Valley

19B. Pololü Valley Lookout

20. Këökea Park-Niuli‘i Road

21. Këökea Beach Park

22. Makapala Chapel

23. Püwä‘i‘ole Gulch, Makapala

24. Kalähikiola Congregational Church, Kapa‘au

25. Lapakahi State Historical Park

26. Honokoa Bridge

27. Honokoa Gulch culvert

28. North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor

29. Kawaihae Pier

30. Pu‘ukoholä Heiau NHS, Kawaihae

31. Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway road cut

32. Moku‘aikaua Church, Kailua-Kona

33. Hulihe‘e Palace, Kailua-Kona

34. Hölualoa Catholic Cemetery

35. Kona Community Hospital, Kealakekua

36. Kealakekua Bay

Overview Map of Selected Sites, 

October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay and 

Mähukona Earthquakes, 

Island of Hawai‘i
10 Overview of Selected Sites 

Site Hwy Mile Actual Latitude Longitude

No. Post Mileage (°N) (°W) (km) (mi)

1 Laupähoehoe Gulch, Laupähoehoe, North Hilo District

 Laupähoehoe Gulch, south end 19 26 26.3 19.98716 155.24615 73.0 45.4

 Laupähoehoe Gulch, north end 19 26 26.6 19.98808 155.24930 72.7 45.2

2 Kawäili Bridge, Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District 19 35 35.2 20.03334 155.35542 63.0 39.1

3 St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District 19 36 36.4 20.04143 155.37260 61.5 38.2

4 Pa‘auilo Hongwanji Mission and Cemetery, Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District 19 36 36.4 20.04117 155.37417 61.4 38.1

5 Shingon-shu Pa‘auilo Kongoji, Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District 19 36 36.4 20.04069 155.37344 61.4 38.2

6 Kalöpä Cemetery, Kalöpä, Hämäkua District 19 39 39.8 20.05916 155.41804 57.7 35.8

7 Kalöpä Mauka (“Sand Gulch”) Road, Kalöpä, Hämäkua District 19 39 39.8 20.05226 155.42113 57.1 35.5

8 Honoka‘a High School, Honoka‘a, Hämäkua District 19 43 43.0 20.07607 155.46380 53.9 33.5

9 Hale Ho‘öla Hämäkua, Honoka‘a, Hämäkua District 19 43 43.6 20.07651 155.47020 53.4 33.2

10 Waipi‘o Valley, Hämäkua District N/A 20.11922 155.59030 42.2 26.2

11 Coastline, ‘Äinahou debris fan, Hämäkua District N/A 20.13467 155.60764 44.5 27.7

12 Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District N/A 20.14441 155.63672 43.0 26.7

13 Coastline, Laupähoehoe Iki to Lauphoehoe Nui debris fans, Hämäkua District N/A 20.16265 155.65286 43.2 26.9

Laupähoehoe Iki debris fan N/A 20.15363 155.64204 43.3 26.9

Laupähoehoe Nui debris fan N/A 20.16265 155.65286 43.2 26.9

14 Coastline, Laupähoehoe Nui debris fan to Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District

Laupähoehoe Nui debris fan N/A 20.16265 155.65286 43.2 26.9

Honopue Valley N/A 20.17780 155.68818 42.1 26.2

15 Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District N/A 20.17780 155.68818 42.1 26.2

16 Honoke‘ä Valley, Hämäkua-North Kohala District boundary N/A 20.18563 155.69951 42.1 26.2

17 Coastline, Honopue Valley to ‘Äko‘ako‘a Point, Hämäkua and North Kohala Districts

Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District N/A 20.17780 155.68818 42.1 26.2

‘Äko‘ako‘a Point, North Kohala District N/A 20.19234 155.71646 41.7 25.9

18 N/A 20.19675 155.71975 42.0 26.1

19 Pololü Valley and Pololü Valley Lookout, North Kohala District

19A Pololü Valley N/A 20.20370 155.73111 42.0 26.1

19B Pololü Valley Lookout, Niuli‘i–Häwï Road 270 29 29.0 20.20357 155.73375 41.9 26.0

20 Këökea Park Road intersection toWaikani Gulch bridge, Makapala, North Kohala District 270 27 27.2 20.22029 155.74826 42.8 26.6

Këökeakea Park Road intersection 270 27 27.3 20.22064 155.74698 42.9 26.6

Waikani Gulch one-lane bridge, Makapala 270 27 27.2 20.22029 155.74826 42.8 26.5

21 Këökea Beach Park, Makapala, North Kohala District

21A Këökea Beach 270 27 27.3 20.22747 155.74579 43.6 27.1

21B Këökea Beach Park gazebo 270 27 27.3 20.22782 155.74540 43.6 27.1

21C Këökea Beach Park pavilion 270 27 27.3 20.22697 155.74559 43.6 27.1

22 Makapala Chapel, Makapala, North Kohala District 270 27 27.1 20.22133 155.74883 42.8 26.6

23 Püwä‘i‘ole Gulch, Makapala, North Kohala District 270 26 26.6 20.22104 155.75501 42.5 26.4

24 Kalähikiola Congregational Church, Kapa‘au, North Kohala District 270 23 23.9 20.22261 155.79454 41.0 25.5

25 Lapakahi State Historical Park, Mähukona, North Kohala District 270 13 13.9 20.17535 155.89753 33.3 20.7

26 Honokoa Bridge, Mähukona, South Kohala District 270 4 4.5 20.05158 155.83952 21.7 13.5

27 Honokoa Gulch culvert, Mähukona, South Kohala District 270 4 4.3 20.04896 155.83803 21.5 13.4

28 North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor, Kawaihae, South Kohala District 270 3 3.4 20.03887 155.83148 20.9 13.0

29 Kawaihae Pier, Kawaihae, South Kohala District 270 3 3.4 20.03642 155.82916 20.8 12.9

30 Pu‘ukoholä Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, South Kohala District 270 2 2.3 20.02761 155.82148 20.4 12.7

31 Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway road cut, Puakö, South Kohala District 19 71 71.6 19.95728 155.82577 14.4 9.0

32 Moku‘aikaua Church, Kailua-Kona, North Kona District 11 119 119.6 19.63964 155.99389 27.2 16.9

33 Hulihe‘e Palace, Kailua-Kona, North Kona District 11 119 119.6 19.63929 155.99453 27.3 16.9

34 Hölualoa Catholic Cemetery, Hölualoa, North Kona District 180 5 5.0 19.63539 155.95062 27.0 16.8

35 Kona Community Hospital, Kealakekua, South Kona District 11 112 112.1 19.51957 155.91712 39.9 24.8

36 Kealakekua Bay, Kealakekua, South Kona District 11 105 105.8 19.47510 155.91961 44.8 27.9

Site Location Epicenter distance

Honokäne Nui Valley North Kohala District

Table 1.  Site locations, with coordinates and distances from the Kïholo Bay epicenter, Island of Hawai‘i.
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 110

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Edwin L. Harp, 

USGS, Denver, and David C. Wilson and James P. Kauahikaua, 

USGS, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, for their thoughtful 

reviews. In addition, we thank Ed and Jim for images of rock 

falls along the Hämäkua Coast and in North Kohala valleys, 

which contributed substantively to the scope of this project. 

The persons whose names are listed below gave a tour of 

a damaged site, provided photographs, stories, and information, 

or helped with data-gathering and formatting. The authors are 

deeply grateful for their experience, expertise, and assistance, 

which enhanced the clarity and accuracy of this work.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Staff

Hawaii County Department of Public Works

Mack S. Asato, Highways Division

Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources

Steven Bergfeld, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Kevin L. Gooding, 

 Commission on Water Resources Management

Hawaii State Department of Transportation

Elton Suganuma, Harbors Division, Kawaihae Harbor

Marissa Bondaug, Harbors Division, Kawaihae Harbor

Hulihe‘e Palace Museum Staff and Volunteers

Kalähikiola Congregational Church

Reverend George Baybrook

Boyd and Rebecca Bond

Kona Community Hospital Staff

John P. (Jack) Lockwood

National Park Service

Adam M. Johnson, 

 Pu‘ukoholä Heiau National Historic Site

Bobby Camara, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Laura Schuster, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Pa‘auilo Hongwanji Mission

Rowan Matsumoto

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes

David (Dave) A. Whilldin

USGS, Denver

Edwin L. Harp

Randall W. Jibson

USGS, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Staff

Loren J. Antolik

James P. (Jim) Kauahikaua

USGS, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Staff—cont

Michael P. (Mike) Poland

Frank A. Trusdell

David (Dave) C. Wilson

USGS, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Volunteers

Lauren E. Colwell

Cynthia Francos

Charlie G. Jones

J. Katie Marks

Torge S. Steensen

Other Volunteers

Laura S. Mizuno

Ernest C. Pascua

Lorraine Yadao

References

20000-Names.com, 1999, Akoni: http://www.20000-names.

com/male_hawaiian_names.htm, last accessed 5/18/2010.

Applied Technology Council, 2005, Field manual—

Postearthquake safety evaluation of buildings, no. ATC-20-

1, 2nd ed.: Oakland, Calif., R.P. Gallagher Associates, Inc., 

159 p.

Cabatu, Elena, 2006, East Hawaii medical facilities respond 

to Sunday morning earthquake: Hawaii Reporter, Oct. 16, 

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?c0b55e68-bc2e4790-b8f6-d5a2b758314b, last accessed 2/23/2009.

Chock, Gary, ed., 2006, Compilation of observations of the 

October 15, 2006 Kiholo Bay (Mw6.7) and Mahukona 

(Mw6.0) earthquakes, Hawaiÿi: Honolulu, EERI/SEAOH/

UH Report, 53 p. [Authors: Robertson, Ian, Nicholson, 

Peter, Brandes, Horst, Medley, Edward, Okubo, Paul, 

Hirshorn, Barry, Sumada, Jiro, Kindred, Troy, Iinuma, 

Gen, Lau, Ernest, Sarwar, Afaq, Dal Pino, John, Holmes, 

William, Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and 

Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee].

Clark, J.R.K., 1985, Beaches of the Big Island: Honolulu, 

University of Hawaii Press, 171 p.

Department of Land and Natural Resources, [n.d.], Lapakahi 

State Historical Park brochure: Honolulu, Hawai‘i 

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of 

State Parks, 2 printed sides.

Desha, S.L. (translated by Frazier, F.N.), 2000, Kamehameha 

and his warrior Kekühaupi‘o: Honolulu, Kamehameha 

Schools Press, p. 309 [originally published in Ka Hoku o

Hawaii (The Star of Hawai‘i) between Dec. 16, 1920, and 

Sept. 11, 1924].

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 2006, Preliminary 

observations on the Hawaiÿi earthquakes of October 15, 

2006: EERI Special Report, Dec., 12 p.
12 References 

Eaton, Kim, 2006, Kona Community Hospital should be fully 

operational by Friday: West Hawaii Today, Oct. 24, http://

www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2006/10/24/local/

local04, last accessed 3/1/2009.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2006, 

FEMA situation report, FEMA-1664-DR-HI, DHS SITREP 

#1: Fort Shafter, Hawaii, unpaginated [9 p.].

FEMA Library, 2007, The case of Kona Community Hospital, 

Hawaii, in Design guide for improving hospital safety in 

earthquakes, floods, and high winds—Providing protection 

to people and buildings: http://www.fema.gov/library/

viewRecord.do?id=2739, chap. 2.3.2.2, unpaginated [9 p.], 

last accessed 5/6/2010.

Hammond, E.V., 1919, The golden treasury of the Bible, new 

edition: New York, Edwin S. Gorham, p. 34.

Hawaii Herald, 1909, Part of Hamakua slides into the sea: 

Hawaii Herald, May 27, 1909 [reprinted from Kohala

Midget, May 26, 1909].

HawaiiWeb.com, 2002, Lapakahi State Historical Park: http://

www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/lapakahi_state_

historical_park.html, last accessed 5/6/2010.

HawaiiWeb.com, 2002, Mokuaikaua Church: http://www.

hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/mokuaikaua_church.html, 

last accessed 5/6/2010.

Hawaiirama, 2006, Waimanu Valley—Remote, 

rugged, magical: http://hawaiirama.com/2006/07/

flickrsrchttphawaiiramacomwaim, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Huynh, Lisa, 2006, Landslide rips pali at Kealakekua Bay: 

West Hawaii Today, Oct. 16, http://www.westhawaiitoday.

com/articles/2006/10/16/local/local03.txt, last accessed 

5/6/2010.

Kamehameha Schools, 1994, The ahupua‘a; life in early 

Hawai‘i: Honolulu, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate, 59 p.

Klein, F.W., Frankel, A.D., Mueller, C.S., Wesson, R.L., and 

Okubo, P.G., 2001, Seismic hazard in Hawaii—High rate 

of large earthquakes and probabilistic ground-motion maps: 

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 91, no. 

3, p. 479–498.

Knudsen, Greg, 2006, School closures (earthquakes)—

Tuesday, October 17, news release: State of 

Hawaii Department of Education, http://www.

hcps.k12.hi.us/STATE/COMM/DOEPRESS.NSF/

a1d7af052e94dd120a2561f7000a037c/c594226d1fbaa7770

a257146006cbc86?OpenDocument, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Let’s Go Hawaii, 2008, Big Island earthquake 10/15/06: 

http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/news/earthquake.html, last 

accessed 5/6/2010.

Lucas, Carolyn, 2006, Hawaii’s oldest church needs $500K 

in repairs: West Hawaii Today, Oct. 19, http://www.

westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2006/10/19/local/local06. 

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2006/10/19/local/

local06.txt, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Lucas, Carolyn, 2009, Church is reborn following quakes: 

Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Jan. 25, p. A1, A12.

MacGowan, D.B., 2009, Waipiÿo Valley, Hamakua Coast 

on the Big Island of Hawaii: http://www.spongefish.com/

creations/9729-Waipi-o-Valley-Hamakua-Coast-on-the-BigIsland-of-Hawaii/steps/1, last accessed 3/1/2009.

Mason, Glenn, 2006, Hulihe‘e Palace—Assessment of 

earthquake damage: Honolulu, Mason Architects, Inc., Oct. 

23, 7 p.

McClure, Bruce, 2007, Kalopa Sand Gulch Road re-opens: 

Hawaii County Department of Public Works, press release, 

Jan. 10, 1 p.

McGovern, P.J., 2007, Flexural stresses beneath Hawaii—

Implications for the October 15, 2006, earthquakes and 

magma ascent: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 34, no. 23, 

L23305, 6 p.

Medley, E.W., 2006, Geological engineering reconnaissance 

of damage resulting from the October 15, 2006 earthquakes, 

Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA: Oakland, Calif., Geosyntec 

Consultants, 37 p.

Munson, C.G., and Thurber, C.H., 1997, Analysis of the 

attenuation of strong ground motion on the Island of 

Hawaii: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 

v. 87, no. 4, p. 945–960.

National Park Service, [n.d.], Pu‘ukoholä Heiau: [s.l.], 

National Park Service brochure, 2 printed sides.

Neal, Marie, 1965, In gardens of Hawaii: Honolulu, Bernice P. 

Bishop Museum Special Publication 50, 924 p.

New Moon Foundation, 2006, Kalahikiola Church; history: 

http://www.newmoonfoundtion.org/facilities/history.html, 

last accessed 5/6/2010.

Okubo, A.T., 2006, Emergency structural assessment of 

earthquake damage to North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor 

located at Kawaihae, Hawaii: Honolulu, Arnold T. Okubo & 

Associates, Inc., unpaginated [40 p.].

Pelletier, Mark and Sue, 1999, Hawaii highways road 

photos—Waipio Valley: http://www.hawaiihighways.com/

photos-Waipio-Valley.htm, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Pratt, L.W., and Abbott, L.L., 1996, Vascular plants of 

Pu‘ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Hawaiÿi Island: 

Honolulu, University of Hawaiÿi at Manoa, Cooperative 

National Park Resources Studies Unit, Technical Report 

101, p. 23 [33 p].

Pukui, M.K., and Elbert, S.H., 2003, Hawaiian dictionary: 

Honolulu, University of Hawai‘i Press, http://www.

wehewehe.org, last accessed 5/6/2010.
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 132

Pukui, M.K., Elbert, S.H., and Mookini, E.T., 2003, Place 

names of Hawai‘i: Honolulu, University of Hawai‘i Press, 

http://www.wehewehe.org, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Richter, C.F., 1958, Elementary seismology: San Francisco, 

W.H. Freeman and Company, p. 135–149.

Risk Management Solutions, 2006, 2006 Kiholo Bay, Hawaii 

earthquake; RMS Event Report: [s.l.], Risk Management 

Solutions, Inc., unpaginated [16 p.].

Robertson, I.N., Nicholson, P.G., and Brandes, H.G., 2006, 

Reconnaissance following the October 15th, 2006, 

earthquakes on the Island of Hawaiÿi: Honolulu, University 

of Hawai‘i College of Engineering, Research Report UHM/

CEE/06-07, 65 p.

Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii (SEA), 2007, 

ATC-20 Post-earthquake building safety evaluations 

performed after the October 15, 2006 Hawaiÿi 

earthquakes—Summary and recommendations for 

improvements (updated): Honolulu, Structural Engineers 

Association of Hawaii, 5 p.

Thompson, Rod, 2006, State opens Kohala trail refurbished 

after quakes: Star-Bulletin, v. 11, no. 325, Nov. 21, http://

archives.starbulletin.com/2006/11/21/news/story08.html, 

last accessed 5/6/2010.

Thompson, Rod, 2007, Repairs end care home camp-out: 

Star-Bulletin, v. 12, no. 4, Jan. 4, http://archives.starbulletin.

com/2007/01/04/news/story07.html, last accessed 

5/18/2010.

Wald, D.J., Quitoriano, Vincent, Dengler, L.A., and Dewey, 

J.W., 1999, Utilization of the Internet for rapid community 

intensity maps: Seismological Research Letters, v. 70, no. 6, 

p. 680–697.

Weaver, Anna, 2008, Quake-damaged Big Island mission 

church torn down: Hawaii Catholic Herald, Sept. 19, 

2008, http://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com, last accessed 

5/18/2010.

Weaver, Anna, 2008, Quake-damaged Big Island mission 

church torn down: Hawaii Catholic Herald, Sept. 19, 2008, 

http://www.hawaiicatholicherald.org/Home/tabid/256/

newsid884/1728/Default.aspx, last accessed 5/18/2010.

Wehewehe.org, 2004, Na puke wehewehe ‘ölelo Hawai‘i [the 

books explaining Hawaiian words or language]; Hawaiian 

dictionaries: Ulukau, The Hawaiian Electronic Library, 

http://www.wehewehe.org, last accessed 5/6/2010.

Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2011, ‘Akoni Pule: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akoni_Pule_Highway, last 

accessed 5/01/2011.

Wood, H.O., and Neumann, Frank, 1931, Modified Mercalli 

intensity scale of 1931: Bulletin of the Seismological 

Society of America, v. 21, no. 4, p. 277–283.

Wyss, Max, and Koyanagi, R.Y., 1992, Isoseismal maps, 

macroseismic epicenters and estimated magnitudes 

of historic earthquakes in the Hawaiian Islands: U.S. 

Geological Survey Bulletin 2006, 93 p. 

Yamada, Takuji, Okubo, P.G., and Wolfe, C.J., 2008, 

Hypocenter relocation and source parameters of the 2006 

Kiholo Bay, Hawaii earthquake sequence [abs.]: Eos 

(American Geophysical Union Transactions), v. 89, no. 53, 

abstract no. S23B–1899.
This page intentionally left blank.
Glossary of Hawaiian Words and Place Names

Äpau All, entirely. Debris fan north of Laupähoehoe Nui 

and south of Honopue Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.

‘Äwini Sharp, bold, forward. Ahupua‘a, gulch, and trail 

(extending from the northern mouth of Pololü Valley and ending at the Kohala Ditch Trail northwest of Honoke‘ä Valley), 

North Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

hale House, building, hall.

Hämäkua Long corner. Forest reserve, ditch, ditch trail, 

district of central and northeast Hawai‘i.

Häpuna Spring. Beach, State Recreation Area, bay, and 

ahupua‘a, South Kohala District, northwest Hawai‘i.

haukapila Hospital.

Hauola Dew of life. Road in Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District, 

northeast Hawai‘i.

Häwï Meaning unknown. Literally, hä, to breathe, four,

fourth note in the musical scale; wï, the sound of wind, of

gnashing teeth, a high, shrill sound. Village and land section, 

north Kohala District, north Hawai‘i. (Situated at the northernmost tip of the island, Häwï is known for the high winds that 

blow through the region and bend its trees.)

heiau Hawaiian place of worship, from earth terraces to 

stone platforms and enclosures. Different types of heiau: 

heiau ho‘öla heiau for treating the sick.

heiau ho‘oulu ‘ai heiau for offering first fruit to insure 

a bountiful harvest.

heiau ho‘oulu i‘a heiau for offering fish to insure good 

fishing.

heiau ho‘oulu ua heiau for offerings to ensure rain.

heiau ma‘o small, temporary heiau covered with tapa 

dyed green (ma‘o) for the ho‘oulu ‘ai ceremony.

heiau po‘o kanaka heiau for offering human sacrifices.

heiau waikaua heiau for offerings to insure success in 

war.

Hi‘ilawe Lift and carry. The highest unterraced waterfall in 

Hawai‘i and one of the highest in the world, with a total height 

of about 442 m (~1,450 ft), in Waipi‘o Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i (Hi‘ilawe Falls data from USGS topo 

sheet, Kukuihaele quad, Island of Hawaii).

Hikiau A luakini (a heiau where human sacrifices were 

made) of Kamehameha I at Kealakekua Bay, South Kona District, southwest Hawai‘i.

Hölualoa Long sled course. Village, bay, and land section, 

North Kona District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Honoka‘a Cavern, sea cave. Bay, town, landing, ahupua‘a, 

Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Definitions of words in this section have been taken 

primarily from http://www.wehewehe.org, the online Hawaiian 

dictionaries. Where place names were not listed in the dictionaries, literal meanings of the words that make up the names 

are given to shed light on their etymology. Words defined are 

listed alphabetically in bold type and their definitions given 

in italics. For place names, features that are important in this 

work (that is, bay, gulch, point, stream, valley, town) and their 

general compass direction are included. More specific locations are provided in the captions.

As in all languages, Hawaiian words have many connotative meanings that enhance their literal definitions. Delving 

into the connotations of place names is invaluable in understanding the nature of place in Hawaiian geology, history, 

and culture.

Words in the Hawaiian language (‘ölelo Hawai‘i) are pronounced, for the most part, as in pronouncing Spanish, Italian, 

or Japanese. The glottal stop, or ‘okina (‘), between vowels or 

at the beginning of a word indicates that the glottis is closed 

when pronouncing the word, as in “accord” for ‘a, “echo” for 

‘e, “if” for ‘i, “oh-oh” for ‘o, and “ooze” for ‘u. The macron, 

or kahakö, over a vowel, indicates that the sound is extended, 

as in “ahhh” for ä, “ehhh” for ë, “eee” (as in Lee) for ï, “o” (as 

in singing “O holy night”) for ö, and “uuu” (as in Lou) for ü.

List of words used:

‘a‘ä Lava with a clinkery, spinose, jagged surface.

ahupua‘a Land division, usually extending from the 

uplands to the sea, marked, in ancient times, by a heap (ahu) 

of stones upon which an image of a pig (pua‘a) was lain as a 

marker of a tax payment to the chief.

‘Äinahou New land. Large debris fan north of Waipi‘o Valley and south of Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.

‘Äko‘ako‘a Coral, coral head. Point in Niuli‘i, north of 

Pololü Valley, North Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

‘Akoni Pule Highway 270, dedicated in July 1973, named 

after the Hawai‘i State legislator who helped obtain Federal and State funds to construct a safer access to Häwï and 

Kapa‘au (towns in the North Kohala District) than through the 

narrow, winding, Kohala Mountain Road [Wikipedia, 2011].

Alakahi One-way. Stream and waterfall in the right branch 

of upper Waipi‘o Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Ali‘i Chief, royal. Coastal street from Keauhou Bay to Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona, North Kona District, west Hawai‘i.
16 Glossary 

Honokäne Iki Meaning unknown. Literally, hono, valley; 

kane, male, or (capitalized) name of Hawaiian god; iki, little. 

Valley, stream, and ahupua‘a, North Kohala District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.

Honokäne Nui Meaning unknown. Literally, hono, valley; 

kane, male, or (capitalized) name of Hawaiian god; nui, big. 

Valley and stream, Kohala Mountains, North Kohala District, 

northeast Hawai‘i.

Honoke‘ä Volcanic rock place. Valley and stream, North 

Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Honokoa Bay of brave warriors. Derived from hono, bay, 

gulch; koa, fearless, martial. Gulch and bridge, South Kohala 

District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Honopue Meaning unknown. Literally, hono, the brow of

a cliff, a joining, as of mountains; pue, huddled, crouched. 

Valley, stream, and land section, Hämäkua District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.

ho‘öla Life. Hale Ho‘öla, house of life, name of hospital in 

Honoka‘a, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Hulihe‘e Turn [and] flee. Palace at Kailua-Kona, built 

in 1838 by Governor Kuakini, restored by the Daughters of 

Hawai‘i in 1927 as a museum of Hawaiian artifacts, North 

Kona District, northwest Hawai‘i.

iki Small, little.

‘ilima Sida (especially Sida fallax), a shrub of the mallow 

family, indigenous to drier regions of the tropical Pacific, bearing yellow, orange, or dull-red paper-thin flowers, often strung 

into leis (it takes about 500 blossoms to make a lei).

‘Iole Name of a legendary rat. Mountain, stream, and 

ahupua‘a, Kohala Mountains; name of road leading to 

Kalähikiola Congregational Church in Kapa‘au, North Kohala 

District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Ka‘ahumanu Bird (feather) cloak. Queen, name of Kamehameha I’s favorite wife; Highway 19, coastal highway of 

South Kohala and North Kona Districts, northwest Hawai‘i.

Ka‘awaloa The distant kava (referring to runners, who 

went to Puna or Waipi‘o to get kava for chiefs). Site of the 

monument to Captain Cook at Kealakekua Bay, South Kona 

District, southwest Hawai‘i.

Ka‘äpahu The truncation. Literally, ka, to strike; ‘äpahu, 

to cut squarely off, a piece cut off at right angles. Road in 

Kalöpä, also known as Sand Gulch Road, Hämäkua District, 

northeast Hawai‘i.

Kalähikiola The sun, bringing life; the day, bringing

salvation. Congregational church, mountain, and ahupua‘a in 

Kapa‘au, North Kohala District, north Hawai‘i.

Kaläkaua King David Kaläkaua, who reigned from 1836 to 

1891, often referred to as the “Merrie Monarch” for his love of 

learning and culture. He is author of The Legends and Myths

of Hawai‘i.

Kälani‘ai Meaning unknown. Literally, kälani, gallon; ‘ai, 

food. Road in Kalöpä, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Kalöpä The tenant farmer. Town, gulch, State Recreation 

Area, land section, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Kamehameha The lonely one. Kamehameha I, the first 

king of Hawai‘i, credited with unifying the islands.

käne Male, man, husband; when capitalized, name of one 

of the four primary Hawaiian gods.

Kapa‘au The elevated portion of a heiau. Land section, 

town east of Häwï, North Kohala District, north-northeast 

Hawai‘i.

Kawaihae The water of wrath (of people who fought for 

water from a pool in this arid region). Land section, bay, road, 

town, Hämäkua District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Kawäili Meaning unknown. Bridge in Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua 

District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Kealakekua The pathway of the gods, who took a shortcut by sliding down the cliff, thereby leaving an imprint. Bay 

(where Captain Cook was killed), trail, village, marine preserve, State Historical and Underwater Parks, and land section, 

southwest Hawai‘i. 

Ke‘ei Meaning unknown. Lagoon, village, coastal area adjacent to, and south of, Kealakekua Bay, South Kona District, 

southwest Hawai‘i.

Këökea The sound of white [water]. Beach park and bay, 

North Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

koa Acacia koa, a large endemic tree of the legume family 

with a smooth, gray bark and gnarly branches, bearing clusters 

of small white flowers that adorn the canopy, and bipinnate 

leaflets that mature into leathery, crescent-shaped leaves. Its 

wood was prized earlier in the making of canoes, paddles, 

surfboards, and calabashes, and is now used in making furniture, ‘ukuleles (a small stringed instrument shaped like a 

guitar), bowls, and cooking implements and cutting boards.

Kohala Cherished land. District famous for the äpa‘apa‘a 

(name given to a strong Kohala wind), forest reserve, ditch, 

trail, mountains, north Hawai‘i.

Kona Leeward. Leeward district of Hawai‘i; northwest and 

southwest Hawai‘i.

Kuakini Innumerable. Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, 

named after John Adams Kuakini, a governor of the island 

(1820–1844) and acting governor of O‘ahu (1831–1834), 

who was in charge of building Hulihe‘e Palace in 1838 and 

Moku‘aikaua Church in 1823 and rebuilding it in 1836.

Kükai‘au Current appearing. Village, gulch, and land section south of Pa‘auilo, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Küka‘ilimoku Name of war god.

kukui Aleurites moluccana, the candlenut tree, a member 

of the spurge family, the kernels of whose oily nuts were used 

as lights in ancient times and used today to make ‘inamona, a 

relish. The polished and drilled nuts are also strung into leis, 

as are its flowers and silvery leaves. The soft wood was used 
Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kıïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery Efforts 176

in canoe-making, its nut coats and roots to make black dye, 

and gum from its bark for painting tapa cloth. An important 

resource for the Hawaiian people, kukui has a broad distribution throughout Hawai‘i. From the air, it can be distinguished 

from other large forest trees in the valleys of northeast Hawai‘i 

by its silvery sage-green canopy.

länai Porch, veranda, shed of a house.

Lapakahi Single ridge. Restored Hawaiian coastal village 

site, State Historical Park, ahupua‘a, North Kohala District, 

northwest Hawai‘i.

lau hala Leaf of the pandanus (screw pine family), native 

to Hawaii and other Pacific islands, Australia, and southern 

Asia. Leaves from the many varieties of this tree were used 

in ancient times for sails, thatching, and garments. Lau (leaf) 

hala (pandanus) continues to be an important source of material for weaving floor coverings and place mats, baskets, hats, 

fans, and ornaments. The fruit of the hala is still used today as 

brushes for dying fabric and in lei-making.

Laupähoehoe Smooth lava flat. Land sections, stream, 

point, village, beach park, ancient surfing area, North Hilo 

District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Laupähoehoe Iki Little, smooth lava flat. Debris fan, now 

heavily vegetated, at the base of the sea cliffs adjacent to, 

and north of, Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.

Laupähoehoe Nui Large, smooth lava flat. Larger of the 

two debris fans (the other being Laupähoehoe Iki), now heavily vegetated, at the base of the sea cliffs adjacent to, and north 

of, Laupähoehoe Iki, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

lehua See ‘öhi‘a lehua.

lei Garland, wreath, necklace of flowers leaves, shells,

feathers, seeds, beads, paper, or candy, given as an expression

of affection, celebration, or respect.

lele Sacrificial altar or stand at a heiau.

lo‘i Irrigated terrace, especially for taro, but also for rice.

lua Hole, pit, crater; toilet.

Mähukona Leeward steam. Beach park, harbor, village, 

North Kohala District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Mailekini Many maile vines (Alyxia olivaeformis; endemic 

twining shrub with shiny, fragrant leaves used in leis). Ancient 

heiau at Pu‘ukoholä National Historical Site, south of Kawaihae, South Kohala District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Makapala Sore beginning to heal. Village and land section, 

North Kohala District, north-northeast Hawai‘i.

Mämalahoa Paddle fragments (after Kamehameha was 

struck on the head while his foot was caught in a crevice; 

probably named after the law of the splintered paddle, which 

guaranteed safety on the highway to all). Belt road, Island of 

Hawai‘i.

makai Ocean; towards the ocean.

mämane Sophora chrysophylla, a high-altitude endemic 

tree of the legume family, bearing bright yellow flowers and 

winged seed pods (flowers and seeds were food for native 

birds), whose hard wood was prized for digging sticks, house 

and fence posts and beams, and papa hölua (sled) runners; 

also the name of the endemic bird that feeds on the nectar 

and seeds of the tree. Main street through Honoka‘a town, off 

Mämalahoa Highway, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

mauka Inland.

Moku‘aikaua Name derived from the forested crown lands, 

about two miles east of Donkey Mill, that yielded the wood for 

the church on Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, North Kohala District, 

west Hawai‘i.

Mokupuku Contracted island. Islet, off-shore Pololü Valley to the north and Honokäne Nui Valley to the south, North 

Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Muliwai River. Trail, ahupua‘a between Waimanu and 

Waipi‘o valleys, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Napo‘opo‘o The holes. The place is so named because people in the bay in canoes saw people on-shore peering at them 

through holes (doors) in their grass huts. Village in Hönaunau, 

South Kona District, west Hawai‘i.

Niuli‘i Small coconut. Village north of Pololü Valley, 

ahupua‘a and stream, North Kohala District, north-northeast 

Hawai‘i.

nui Big, large, great, important, the greater part.

Nunulu growl [probably referring to the sound of the 

infamous winds of the Kohala region]. Ahupua‘a in Kapa‘au, 

North Kohala District, north-northeast Hawai‘i.

‘öhi‘a See ‘öhi‘a lehua.

‘öhi‘a lehua Metrosideros polymorpha, hardwood tree and 

blossom of the myrtle family with showy blossoms made up 

of clusters of red-to-yellow stamens. The tree grows from sea 

level to more than 2,500 m (8,000 ft), the timberline on Mauna 

Loa, reaching a height of more than 25 m (80 ft) in wet rain 

forests. Its dark, dense wood is prized for house posts and 

flooring, spears, poi-pounding boards, and other uses where 

durability is of the essence. 

‘oloke‘a Scaffolding; ladder made of sticks tied horizontally

to the vertical poles.

Pa‘auilo Meaning unknown. Village, gulch, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

pähoehoe Smooth, sometimes ropy, basaltic lava.

Pakalana Michelia alba DC., Michelia longifolia Bl, 

white champak tree or blossom of the tree native to Java. The 

fragrant flowers are used in making leis [Neal, 1965]. Street in 

Honoka‘a, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

pali Cliff, steep hill.

Paokalani Meaning unknown. Literally, pao, cave, to

scoop out, as of the action of the sea on the coast; kalani, 

gallon. Islet, off-shore Pololü Valley to the north and Honokäne Nui Valley to the south, North Kohala District, northeast 

Hawai‘i.
18 Glossary 

Papalele Leaping flats. Street and gulch in Kalöpä, land 

section, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Pololü Long spear. Valley, overlook, North Kohala District, 

northeast Hawai‘i.

Puakea White blossom; pale, as sunset clouds; to spread,

as fog; color of a buckskin horse. Ranch, land section, point, 

northeast Hawai‘i.

Puakö Sugar-cane blossom. Village, bay, point, road, petroglyph field, South Kohala District, northwest Hawai‘i.

Pu‘ukoholä Hill of the whale. National historic site; heiau 

constructed by Kamehameha I for his war god Küka‘ilimoku, 

near Kawaihae, northwest Hawai‘i. Another meaning, spelled 

Pu‘ukohola, is given in Kamehameha and His Warrior

Kekühaupi‘o: Pu‘u, desire, need (for death); kohola, reef flats; 

kai kohola, lagoon—hence, death in the lagoon (of the heiau) 

to those who do harm to the land and its people [Desha, translated by Frazier, 2000].

Püwä‘i‘ole Meaning unknown. Literally, püwä, to shine,

reflect brightly; ‘i, to say, great; ‘ole, not, nothingness. Gulch 

in Makapala, North Kohala District, north-northeast Hawai‘i. 

Waiakala‘e Water of the clearness. Falls, stream, and gulch 

in Pololü Valley, North Kohala District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Waihïlau Many trickling waters (as on a cliff face). Stream, 

Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Wai‘ilikahi Water with a single surface. Falls and stream, 

Waimanu Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Waikani Meaning unknown. Literally, wai, water; kani, 

sound. Gulch near Këökea Road, Akoni Pule Highway, North 

Kohala District, north-northeast Hawai‘i.

Wailoa Long water. Stream, Waipi‘o Valley, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Waimanu Bird water. Valley, bay, stream, trail, land section, 

Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.

Waipahi Meaning unknown. Literally, wai, water, stream; 

pahi, knife. Stream, south of Honokane Iki Valley and north 

of Honoke‘ä Valley, North Kohala District, north-northeast 

Hawai‘i.

Waipi‘o Curved water. Valley, bay, gulch, stream, land section, Hämäkua District, northeast Hawai‘i.
Produced in the Western Region, Menlo Park, California

Manuscript approved for publication April 30, 2010

Text edited by Tracey Suzuki

Layout and graphic design by Susan Mayfield
Takahashi and others—Selected Images of the Effects of the October 15, 2006, Kïholo Bay-Mähukona, Hawai‘i, Earthquakes and Recovery—Data Series 506