Käneaka slide and He‘eia Bay Lecture

Mähealani Pai and Keone Kalawe of the Keauhou-Kahalu‘u Education Group will discuss the historical significance of Käneaka slide and He‘eia Bay in Keauhou, North Kona, in an upcoming Puana Ka ‘Ike lecture in Kona and an Eia Hawai‘i presentation in Hilo.

The free presentations are scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Campus Center Room 301, and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 27, in Ballroom III at the Keauhou Beach Resort in Kona.

Käneaka is the famous royal kahua hölua (slide) in Keauhou, North Kona, whose current footprint is being captured through a plane table mapping project with island students.

Cultural specialist Pai and lead mapping teacher Kalawe will share their ongoing research about the famous slide, its construction and sporting aspects, and He‘eia, the bay into which Käneaka’s pathway once touched.

Pai and Kalawe will lead a field study to Käneaka and He‘eia Bay from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 28. This field study will help participants understand the direct link between Käneaka and He‘eia Bay as well as the magnitude of the ancient sport of sledding. Space is limited; for reservations, contact Joy Cunefare at or e-mail by Tuesday, January 24.

For more information on these presentations, contact Cunefare. For lecture schedules and webcasts of previous lectures, visit http://kohalacenter.org/puanakaike/about.html and www.keauhouresort.com/learn-puanakaike.html.

The Puana Ka ‘Ike and Eia Hawai‘i lecture series are presented in partnership with Keauhou-Kahalu‘u Education Group of Kamehameha Schools, The Kohala Center, the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and Keauhou Beach Resort.