Posted on: Sunday, September 2, 2001

Kailua recapturing its past

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Bureau

Kailua Historical Society organizers Lucille Gibson, Joanne Flannery, Trisha Mach, Peggy Froome, Ted Gibson and A. T. "Red" Miller met last week to begin sorting through historical materials on the Kailua ahupua'a. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

KAILUA — When Joanne Flannery moved to Hawai'i in 1957, the only thing she knew about Kailua was that it "was the end of the world."

She didn't know that Queen Lili'uokalani used to stop in Maunawili on her way to the North Shore or that there was ranching, farming and a race track in Kailua.

Today, retired and living in this Windward community after years in 'Aina Haina, the North Shore and Honolulu, she said she has learned that it's the perfect place, having everything a person could want.

She also has learned that much of the town's history has been lost because few people have taken time to collect it. All that will change after the new Kailua Historical Society holds its first charter membership meeting on Sept. 11.

The society, which was organized earlier this year, will collect, preserve, store and share historical material about the Kailua ahupua'a.

Participation so far has been active, with some 40 people turning out for an organizational meeting recently where such committees as oral history, museum sites and tours, and education were formed, said Flannery, society president.

"I think there's a lot of pride in Kailua," Flannery said about the turnout. "That pride spills over to what was in our past, and now we can preserve what is happening now for the future."

A brief partial history of Kailua will be presented at the Sept. 11 meeting. In addition, Helen Nakano, a founding member of Malama 'O Manoa, will speak.

Like the Kailua Historical Society, Malama 'O Manoa initially focused on preservation. Later, it became apparent that its mission had to expand, Nakano said.

"We realized that to (preserve history) we had to build community and respect the cultural diversity of the valley," Nakano said. "We had to get the entire community to help us see the bigger vision."

In its nine years of existence, Malama 'O Manoa has inventoried about 1,200 historic homes that are older than 50 years, identified some 400 kupuna older than 65 who have lived in Manoa for more than 50 years and published a book called "Manoa, The Story of a Valley," which is a compilation of short stories from 13 residents. Some 4,000 copies were sold. The last of them are still available at Long's in Manoa.

Participating in the organization has been a "life-changing" experience, Nakano said.

"I wouldn't have known about the rich culture and history of the valley," she said. "My appreciation of the valley comes from working in the organization."

Kailua librarian Sandy Akana said she has provided the Kailua organization with materials, sources and leads to get them started. The library has 17 oral histories of Kailua given by prominent community members, including Dr. Simeon Akaka, Joseph Campos, Arthur Rice Jr., John Kamanu and Linda Mahoe.

The organization is worthwhile for the future of the community, Akana said.

"An understanding of the past is important to make the best of today," she said.

Constance Oliva, a member of the Kailua society, sees the organization as a means to preserve history, culture and historical sites.

"There are so many encroachments on our little patch of O'ahu and some losses could never be justified and never be regained," Oliva said. "If we lost (Kawai Nui) marsh, for example, which was the biggest fishpond in all the Hawaiian islands, it would be irreparable."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.