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Lava flowed around this Kalapana home in April 1990. - Photo: Courtesy USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
Kalapana residents return home
O Kalapana kai leo nui, ua lono ka uka o Hōlei,” the song “Hōlei” begins, telling of the roaring Kalapana sea that could be heard all the way in the uplands of Hōlei.
When Kīlauea's eruption began to cover Kalapana and its surrounding villages in the late 1980s, the people of Kalapana were displaced, many out of range of the voice of the sea. The supplanted residents were scattered around the island, across the state, and to the U.S. continent. Even the Kalapana Mauna Kea Church, whose Kalauonāone choir was presented the 1886 statewide 'Aha Mele Song competition prize by Lili'uokalani, moved to Nānāwale.
Today these displaced Kalapana residents are prepared to close the chapter of their lives when they were uprooted and scattered. A new subdivision, Kīkala-Kēōkea, is ready to welcome the 'ohana home. On Aug. 16, the Kalapana Community Association and its nonprofit arm Kalauonāoneopuna held the first Kalapana Comeback Day.
“Kalapana was known for their ho'olaule'a. Once a year we would have Kamoamoa Day in the national park with interactive demonstrations,” said Maile Moulds-Carr, a planner of the event. “So it made sense to kick off the drive for our community cultural center with a ho'olaule'a.”
Following the devastation of the Kalapana area, in 1991, the state Legislature authorized the Department of Land and Natural Resources to lease lands to Kalapana families to build a new village. Kīkala-Kēōkea is about 3 miles northeast of Kalapana.
The leases for the 1-acre lots are for a term of 65 years. Before the leases expire, DLNR hopes to turn over the property to OHA, said DLNR spokesperson Debbie Ward. But some confusion remains over when the 65-year term begins. Although the first round of leases was signed in 1995, it wasn't until 2007 that the 48 families were allowed to move onto the land. The delay was due to infrastructure improvements beyond what was originally planned for the community.
“Originally the Kīkala-Kēōkea Residential Community Association was going to be responsible for the subdivision's gravel roadways, drainage ways and water line (spigots), then the tenants wanted everything developed up to county standards at an estimated cost of $2.4 million. The project stopped while we tried to obtain funding from the Legislature,” said Ward.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs provided $1.35 million toward the infrastructure improvements. “When we started trying to get money together for our village back in 1989-90, we had no idea it would take so long. We figured it would take two or three years,” Kalapana resident Kau'ilani Almeida told Ka Wai Ola in 2002 when the money was given. Little did she know that it would be 17 years before they could move onto the land.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources authorized DLNR to stop billing the tenants in November 1998, but it remains unclear whether the 65-year clock stopped.
The second phase of the subdivision had 19 remaining lots, which were awarded earlier this year. Unfortunately, with all the lots full, there are still 20 eligible applicants and were not awarded leases. There are no plans as of yet to expand the community.
For now, the stage is set for many of the families of Kalapana to build new homes and reunite a community that has been scattered for too long. “This is all 'ohana in here,” said resident Tootsie Peleiholani.
And in the still of the night, one can hear the kai leo nui once more.
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