Inoa | Name(s)
Kaunakakai, Kaunakahakai
Hiʻona ʻāina | Land characteristic: ܱܲʻ
Hiʻona ʻāina o loko o kēia wahi | Feature(s) located within this place: Kaʻahukini; Kākalahale; Kalaʻiakamanu; Kaluaōlohe; Kamālaʻe; Kaulolo; Kaunakakai Gulch; Kaunakakai Harbor; Kōheo; Kukuiokahoʻāliʻi; Māhinahina; Malama; Maunahuʻi; Poholua; Puʻu Oʻahu; Puʻu Hauʻoli [Manila Camp]; Puʻu Maniniholo; Ka Lae ʻO Ka Manu
Hiʻona ʻāina nona kēia wahi | Feature(s) that contain this place: Kona (Molokaʻi)
Hōʻuluʻulu manaʻo
He ahupuaʻa ʻo Kaunakakai ma ke kai hema o Molokaʻi a ma ia wahi ke kūlana kauhale nui a me ka uapo nui o ka mokupuni. ʻO Haualialia ka makani. Kaulana ʻo Kaunakakai i ka momona o ka iʻa a me ka paʻakai. Wahi a kekahi kūpuna, i ka wā kāhiko ua like ka nui ʻino o ka iʻa no ka hiki ke peku i ka iʻa ma ke kai pāpaʻu i ke one. Ua kūkulu ʻo Kamehameha V i kekahi hale nanea ma kahi o Kaunakakai Wharf kapa ʻia ka inoa ʻo Malama. Mai nā makahiki hope o ke kenekulia 1800 a i nā makahiki mua o ke kenekulia 1900, lilo akula ʻo Kaunakakai Wharf i wahi koʻikoʻi no ka halihali ʻana i ka meli, ke kō, a me ka hala kahiki.
Description
Kaunakakai is an ahupuaʻa located on the south shore of Molokaʻi and includes the island’s primary town and wharf (Kaunakakai Wharf). It is situated west of Kapaʻakea and east of Kalamaʻula. This area was historically recognized as a canoe landing and for its abundance of fish and salt. One kupuna recalled that in earlier times, fish were so plentiful that they could be kicked from the shallow waters onto the shore. Kamehameha V built a vacation home near the original Kaunakakai Pier which is near the present-day Kaunakakai Wharf. From the late 1800s through early 1900s, Kaunakakai Wharf became the major hub for transportation of honey, sugar cane, and pineapple.
ʻŌlelo kuhikuhi
E koho iā “Kaunakakai (Molokaʻi)” no nā kumuwaiwai pili i ke ahupuaʻa o Kaunakakai ma ka mokupuni o Molokaʻi.
Instructions
Choose term “Kaunakakai” when for the ahupuaʻa of Kaunakakai on Molokaʻi.
Moʻokūʻauhau | Genealogy
Kanaka | Person: Kamehama V (Lot Kaupaiwa)
Hana | Practice: ɲʻ; Hoe waʻa
Kūmole | Source(s)
James, Van. Ancient Sites of Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. Rev. and expanded ed. Van James, 2018.
Ne, Harriet. Tales of Molokaʻi: The Voice of Harriet Ne. The Institute for Polynesian Studies, 1992.
Summers, Catherine. Molokaʻi: A Site Survey. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1971.
Ulukau. Nā Inoa ʻĀina Hawaiʻi. Ulukau.org. Accessed April 6, 2026.
Tuggle, H. David. Mālama Platform Archaeology: 1992 Excavations for Cultural Park Planning. International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., 1993.
Ulukau. Nā Inoa ʻĀina Hawaiʻi. Ulukau.org. Accessed April 6, 2026.
Mea haku | Created by: Melia Kalawe
Mea loiloi | Edited by: Na ka hui ʻimi naʻauao o ʻɲ