A blessing was held on Wednesday to rename Kahakai Park in Puna to Waiakahiʻula Beach Park. This name honors the original place name and the area's rich cultural history.

What You Need To Know

  • The initiative to change the park’s name started in 2023 after two educators who grew up in the Waiakahiʻula area – Leah Gouker and Noʻeau Woo-O’Brien – came across a 1974 survey that led them to the park’s archaeological features

  • Waiakahiʻula means “the place where the water runs red,” which originates from cascading streams along the area’s cliffs that take on a reddish hue during the season of Hoʻoilo – Hawaii’s rainy season that runs November through April

Remnants of the ancient Hawaiian village of Waiakahiʻula, including a well-preserved canoe shed, foundations of a house, and various agricultural sites, are located within the park, according to a news release.

Waiakahiʻula means "the place where the water runs red," which originates from cascading streams along the area's cliffs that take on a reddish hue during the season of Hoʻoilo – Hawaii's rainy season that runs from November through April.

"Honoring the history of Waiakahiʻula through a name change at this historic park is in line with our administration's commitment to preserving the natural and cultural resources of this place we are so blessed to call home," said Mayor Mitch Roth in a news release. "We cannot foster a sustainable Hawaii Island where future generations can thrive without first ensuring that our culture – what makes Hawaii, Hawaii – is thriving."

Community leaders, students, elected officials and local residents attended the blessing that included a kipaepae ceremony led by Hawaii Community College I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Lifestyles, speeches, luʻau-style lunch and hoʻike, a demonstration of learning conducted by students from Pahoa High School's ʻAha Lamakū ʻOiaʻiʻo program.

Information compiled by the students of Pahoa High School’s ʻAha Lamakū ʻOiaʻiʻo program will be used to create interpretive signage. (Photo courtesy of the County of Hawaii)

During the students' summer program, they compiled historical information about Waiakahiʻula. Hawaii County's Department of Parks and Recreation will use the information to create interpretive signage describing the area's history.

The initiative to change the park's name started in 2023 after two educators who grew up in the Waiakahiʻula area – Leah Gouker and Noʻeau Woo-O'Brien – came across a 1974 survey that led them to the park's archaeological features.

The initiative received support from the Department of Parks & Recreation, County Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz, who introduced a bill to change the name. The Hawaii County Council passed the bill in March following testimony submitted by the ALO students.

"I wholeheartedly believe that the return of the name Waiakahiʻula will also trigger a return of Hawaiian identity and pride to this very space," said Woo-O'Brien, an instructor at the Hawaii Community College I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawai'i Lifestyles. "There has been a growing shift of consciousness and appreciation regarding things Hawaiian, and I believe this name change is an extension of that shift."

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.