November 2020

• Our Ahupua'a

  From the mountain to the sea, our ahupua'a is that of Pālolo and is sometimes mentioned as that of Waikīkī. Extending from the ridge of Awaawaloa (2447 ft.) and Pu'u Lahipo (2621 ft.) and descending the ridges of Wa'ahila and Kalaepōhaku to the wetlands of Kapahulu and Waikīkī, and including the off-shore surf sites such as Kalehuawehe ("Populars"), and comprised of smaller sub-sections, this ahupua'a has its own rich collection of oral traditions, or mo'olelo, that speak of the significance of this area in earlier times.

  Saint Louis School stands on a prominent land feature—“the rocky promontory”—in Hawaiian, Kalaepōhaku. Nineteenth-century records indicate that this section, or 'ili of the Pālolo 'ahupua'a was granted to High Chief Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pāki, father of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Earlier traditions speak of this as a fertile and productive region, enough to sustain a population center during the time of the 16th-century ali'i 'aimoku or king of O'ahu, Kākuhihewa.

  This roughly triangular wedge juts from the Ko'olau range, and is divided into three major segments: Wa'ahila running along the east wall of Mānoa valley, Kūmauna or Kaumana at the center summit, and Kalaepōhaku bordering Pālolo valley. The foot of the ridge is bordered by Pālolo stream where the ancient lava of the Kaimukī cone pushes against the older Ko'olau slopes.

  In 1922, the Society of Mary--the Marianists--purchased this parcel of 204 acres from the Estate of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop for $62,000. Construction of the first five main buildings of St. Louis College was completed by 1929, serving grades 1 through 12.