Ahupua'a o Maunalua

Last Wednesday a friend and I went to the top of Koko Crater via the old trolley car tracks that extend up the southwest side of the crater. The tracks are heavily used these days by hikers and fitness enthusiast. I remember watching the white trolley car go up and down the crater when I was a small kid in the 1960's.

I last went up to the top of Koko Head about 6 or 7 years ago and there was hardly anybody using the tracks at that time. As you may have seen on TV or in the news there is some controversy regarding the use of the tracks by hikers and others due to the close proximity of the rifle range. The rifle range is located in a smaller crater called Kahauloa Crater (see pictures 1, 2 & 3 below). Hanauma Bay and Koko Head (Kuamo'o o Kane or Mo'okua 0 Kaneapua) are in full view behind Kahauloa crater in Pic. 3.

Kohelepelepe is the Hawaiian name for Koko Crater. I believe the more common name of Koko Crater was inspired by the missionaries who did not like to use the name of Kohelepelepe for the crater because they did not like the meaning of the words. Read about the legends of Pele and Kamapua'a if you don't know or want to learn more. I am to hilahila to explain it.

Pic. 4 shows a small crater like island in Kuapa Pond (Koko Marina) which has water in the center of it. This island is a valuable sanctuary for native or indigenous wetland birds which I sometimes see in the marina or in grassy parks of Hawaii Kai after heavy rains.

Maunalua Bay at sunset is visible in Pic. 5.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5.