-na Tom Penna

The Sacred Uplands  -  kalana līhu‘e, wahiawā, halemano...
 
Pu‘uhonua Kūkaniloko, kalana līhu‘e, wahiawā, halemano... - 36,000 acres upon the central uplands of O‘ahu island demarcated by kaʻānaniʻau within and without to boundaries of the Wai‘anae and Ko‘olau mountain ranges.  These cool uplands were home to a flora of ‘iliahi, ‘ōhia, koa, kauila, lama, and fragrant kupukupu ferns and fauna.  It is here that our ali‘i were born, nurtured, and educated to eventually be selected to manage our sacred land, its precious natural resources and our beloved people.
 
Wahiawā, place everlasting, where hōʻailona – audible, visual and atmospheric occurrences – recognizes and welcomes the birthright of our ali‘i of divine lineage.  Being the socioeconomic center of our nation, Kūkaniloko – "to anchor the cry from within" – is symbolic of the piko, the navel, which metaphysically centers and connects us as a people, since time immemorial to time eternal, to all that is seen and unseen...
                                                           

---

        “...e kūkaʻawe i nā kapu o Kūkaniloko nō ka mea aloha nō hoʻi kākou iā lākou i nā kau a kau..."                                             “...to guard the kapu of Kūkaniloko because we love them for all time…”                                                                               

Onsite Signage Y2K