ADDING TO MRS. LAHILAHI WEBB’S STORY OF WAIPAHU

Editor The Advertiser:

May I add a little to Lahilahi Webb’s story of Waipahu.

On Tuesday Miss Titcomb took Lahilahi Webb and me to interview Mrs. Kapeka Baker, one of the two remaining old timers of that locality.

She told us that a certain woman in Kahuku had a tapa anvil which she greatly prized and hid near a spring called Punahoolapa. One day it fell into the water and disappeared. Hoping that she would find the outlet that would restore her anvil to her, she set out to look for it. She inquired everywhere she went.

In the meantime the anvil had come out of a gushing spring, Waipahu, and slipped down into Poniohua stream, where it was found by a native woman and used. When the owner came to Waipahu she recognized the sound of her anvil and went to ask for it. She was delighted to have it again.

In this way the natives discovered that the water of Waipahu has its source in Kahuku and that there is a subterranean stream connecting Puna-hoolapa to Waipahu.

May I also correct the spelling of the konohiki’s name mentioned by Mrs. Webb? It is Kapepee-kauila and not Kapepu Kauila. He was konohiki of Waikele and later of Waianae during the reign of Kamehameha III.

Aloha, and thanks.

MARY KAWENA PUKUI,

E. LAHILAHI WEBB.

May 25.

(Advertiser, 5/27/1939, p. 16.)

The Honolulu Advertiser, 83rd Year, Number 18,841, Page 16. May 27, 1939.