Vandals deface historic Hawaiian stones fronting Hilo Public Library

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

John Trinidad, Hilo Public Library custodian, removes paint today that was sprayed on the Naha Stone. Kevin Dayton • The Honolulu Advertiser

The dates "1893-2004" were painted on the huge Naha Stone in a whitewash-type paint, while a large white stripe was splashed in the smaller Pinao Stone next to the Naha.

Records indicate the larger Naha Stone, which is estimated to weigh 3-1/2 tons, was brought to the Big Island from Kaua'i to the Pinao Temple area near the Wailuku River.

The stone was used to test claims that newborn boys were of royal blood. An infant who was placed on the stone was deemed to be Naha if he was silent, and was not of royal blood if he cried.

The stone is probably best known for the part it played in the rise of Kamehameha the Great.

A high priestess foretold that Kamehameha would need to accomplish a great task of "overthrowing the mountain," and Kamehameha accomplished this by moving the Naha Stone before a gathering of the prophetess Kalaniwahine and gathered spectators, according to interpretive material distributed by the library.

The smaller Pinao Stone is said to have been an entrance pillar of the Pinao Temple.

Kalani Kay, a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, said someone apparently wanted to convey a message with the vandalism, which included the year of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

"It looks like they were trying to say something, but I don't understand '2004,' " said Kay, whose organization works to protect historic and sacred Hawaiian sites. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just vandalism, especially on a historical stone."

Kay and a library crew were at work this morning scrubbing and spraying the stones to remove the paint, which appeared to be coming off with few difficulties.

Wilma Matsumura, branch manager for the Hilo library, said this is the first time in her 30 years at the library that anyone has vandalized the stones.

More often, people place improvised offerings such as a bead necklace or rocks wrapped in ti leafs on the stone. Library staff remove the offerings, which are not appropriate for the site.

"The people who come in to comment are just scandalized that someone would do this," Matsumura said of the vandalism.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.