Mahealani Cypher and the Ahupua`a Boundary Marker Project

Ahupua`a Boundary Marker Dedication

by Mahealani Cypher

Ever since I was little, my tutu shared her stories with me, tales of our family aumakua, interesting events that occurred, paranormal and extraordinary encounters, important people in our family history. I captured those stories of family history in written form and shared them with all of my cousins.

When I would take her for drives up the Windward Oahu coast, she could name all of the ahupua`a as we passed valley after valley – knew their names and families from these areas.  As an adult, I learned that many people did not have this knowledge passed on to them. When asked where they came from, the responses often were regional rather than specific locations.

Along with others in our Hawaiian civic club, I initiated the ahupua`a boundary marker project to connect island residents with the old names of the ahupua`a in which they lived, and their kuleana to care for the cultural and natural resources of these places. We dedicated the first stone ahu, marking the boundary between Kane`ohe and Kailua, at Castle Junction some years ago – an event celebrated by both communities as a remarkable restoration of an important part of our island history and cultural practice brought to modern times.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mahealani Cypher is an active community volunteer, she also owns Native Knowledge LLC, offering consultation on native Hawaiian issues, historic preservation and Hawaiian perspectives on planning and conservation.

Ms. Cypher has been involved as a community advocate on Windward O‘ahu issues for over 35 years, participating in numerous community and Hawaiian organizations since 1975. She currently serves as president of the O‘ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, immediate past president of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and is a board member for the non-profit organizations Hawai‘i Maoli, Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi, and the Ko‘olau Foundation. She is a former member of the Kāne‘ohe Neighborhood Board.