Ahupuaʻa: Hawaiian land divisions
Traditionally, each island in Hawai’i was organized by large districts called moku, which were then divided into in numerous ahupua’a. These areas were defined by geological and agricultural boundaries, including areas mauka to makai — from the mountains to the ocean. While ahupua’a boundaries often align with watershed boundaries, the boundaries of an ahupua‘a were also culturally determined, shaped by political and social relationships. There were clear rules and systems of managing and exchanging resources between different wao (regions) within an ahupua’a, as well as between different ahupua’a.
What do you notice when you visit the different parts of your local ahupua’a? Try comparing and contrasting what you notice in different elevations. It’s amazing how different the weather, plants, and animal life can be just a few miles apart!
Many of the ancient ahupua’a names and boundaries continue to be used in modern times, but others have been changed to suit the desires of developers. Knowing and using the original names helps connect us to the past, and keep the knowledge embedded in those names alive into the future.
How can you include names, boundaries, or other observations of the ahupua’a you live in (or are visiting) in your nature journal?
Check out the online Hawaiian Place Names resource to learn more about the names in your area.
National Geographic recently published an animated description of the ahupua’a system in Ha’ena on Kaua’i, illustrated by Kānaka Maoli artist Kaiʻili Kaulukukui. You can view it here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/graphics/kauai-ahupuaa-hawaii-land-management-map (Note: you need to enter in an email address to view this page, but as of right now, you don’t have to pay for a subscription. You can also buy the July 2024 special edition print copy to learn more about indigenous futures.)
Artist Sara Saffery created a map of the ahupuaa of Maunalua: https://www.sarasaffery.com/product-page/maunalua-map
Artist Punky Aloha with a more symbolic map of Kailua: https://www.punkyaloha.com/#/mamalani-kailua-map/
Artist Sheanae Tam with a map of the moku of Koʻolaupoko: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0k-8XFrej8/?img_index=1
Kamehameha schools created a digital learning tool to teach about the ahupua’a system: https://ksdigitalfiles.ksbe.edu/elearn/ahupuaa2021/story.html
There is an overview of all the ahupua’a names in Hawai’i on the statewide arcGIS system: https://geoportal.hawaii.gov/datasets/07624815fc7d42d4b23c527d20ad2f58/explore?location=20.993668%2C-157.017008%2C9.12
This website provides detailed moku, ahupua’a, and ‘ili maps you can download for all the islands: https://avakonohiki.weebly.com/o699ahu.html
You can read about the efforts to restore the ahupua’a system in He’eia, O’ahu here: https://www.honolulumagazine.com/from-the-mountain-to-the-sea-saving-the-heeia-ahupuaa/
The Maui Ahupua’a project was created to bring signage and awareness of the ancient land divisions and what they were know for to Maui. https://www.mauinuiahupuaaproject.com/ Makes me wonder: what images would I include on a sign for my ahupua’a?
