Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-10-05
ASKED TO AID Old
HHAU RESTORATION

The Hawaiian Historical Society ad.
dresses the following communication
to the Hawaii Promotion Committee:
The committee from the Hawaiian
Historical Society invited by you tc
visit the ancient heiau of Kupopolu
recently reported by Mr.. T. G. Thrum,
, for the purpose of advising course
to be pursued in reference to tho
preservation or restoration OF same
respectfully report as follows:
Through the courtesy Of Manager
F. c. Smith of the Oahu Railway and
Land Company, special train was
provided for the accommodation Of OUT
party. personally conducted by both
Mr.. Boyd and Mr.. Smith. The trip
was made August 9th and some two
hours were spent on the ground in
vestigating the condition and peculi
nrities of the dllapidated structure.
As had been reported the heiau 10
near the line of the railroad and easy
Of access, being located beyond the Ha
leiwa hotel near the western point OF
Waimea, oahu. 1t is above the aver
age size and the walls are in fair con.
dition considering their great\age and
exposed situation and in themselves
prove an object OF deep interest. This
ancient temple lies parallel with the
shore line, northeast and southwest.
Its front wall measures 226 feet In
length and seemed originally to have
been about ten feet high The struc'
ture is divided into two separate en-.
closures. the northern one being ll2x92
feet Inside measurements and the ad.
Joining southern one l50xll0 feet; the
two embracing an area OF about four
seventies of an acre. The front wall
seems to be OF double construction. A
base some four feet high, runs the en-.
tire length in front and extends around
the northern end, Above and about
three feet within this base rise the
walls proper. Both of the enclosures
are filled with stones, the outer portion
being much disturbed while the central
part is fairly well paved. In the rear
OF the large enclosure terrace runs
across, evidently once paved. The
main part of this southern division
contains several piles of stone which.
A. well as the walled enclosure about
the middle OF the wall at the southwest
end may have much Significance.
Unfortunately little was found on
which to base a clear idea OF the orig.
inal plan of the heiau Of Kupopolu
save the site of the priests house a,
the inner corner of the northern en-.
closure. Other important features
were sought for in vain. Nor were
there found in either enclosure suffi.
cient points of resemblance between
this and other known heiaus to war.
rant safe conjecture for a plan oil
complete or partial restoration.
The committee were impressed with
the accessibility Of Kupopolu. We be
lieve that this fact taken In connection
: with the limited number Of heiaus nov
= remaining on this island is sufficien
to maintain 1t as a point Of unfailini
: attraction to tourists and others In
Q terested in Hawaiian antiquities. w
:. would urge the Importance Of preserv
o ing and marking this, as well as al
l. similar points OF interest on the is
e lands.
b Since there Is not available suffi
h cient data on which to base a plan G
d restoration the committee is agreed a
@ to the ACCESSIBILITY Of taking steps I
8 repair the walls so as TO prevent thei
d farther deterioration and thus to pre-
II pare way for future restoration @
study when better insight into Hs
waiian temple structures of this elias
is to be had. We believe that deepe
historic interest ever prevails owe
well-kept ruins than can be maintaine
by restoration on false or misconceive
" lines. We would therefore recommen
y that steps be taken looking towar
preservation rather than restoratio
- and that some suitable means Of al
proach be constructed, and II possibl
: means be provided to prevent ruthles
'. intrusion
\ N. B. EMERSON,
u Chairman OF Committee.
% Approved: Thos. G. Thrum, VIM.
o Bryan, s. e. Bishop, VIM. W. Hall, !
n