Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii

Summary

This guide to Old Kona, presented by the Kona Historical Society, explores the rich history of the town of Kawaihae. Once a thriving Hawaiian village and the final home of King Kamehameha I, Kawaihae was a political, social, and commercial hub in the 19th century. With natural harbors, it became a regular stop for sea captains, traders, and whalers. The town also played a key role in cattle shipping until the mid-1900s. The video highlights historic structures, vibrant local businesses, and captivating stories from Kawaihae's past.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Kyua, meaning 'two seas or two currents' in Hawaiian, was a significant coastal area in Kona.
• 🏝 Kyua's beaches were once part of a larger stretch of white sand beaches lining the entire bay.
• 👑 Kyua became the political, social, and commercial hub of Kona in the 19th century, chosen as King Kamehameha I's final home.
• ⛪ The Moku Iawa Church reflects Kyua's importance as a royal residence and center of early missionary activity.
• 🚢 Kyua served as one of Kona's few safe natural harbors, frequently visited by sea captains, traders, and whalers.
• ⛴ Kyua was a regular port of call for inter-island travel and commerce, with sailing ships and later steamers arriving until the mid-1900s.
• 🐄 From 1880 to 1956, Kyua Bay was used by local ranchers to ship cattle to Honolulu markets.
• 🐎 Cowboys used to race across the sand of Kyua Beach and swim on horseback out to waiting whaleboats.
• 🚜 In the final years, barges and tugboats replaced steamers for transporting livestock and cargo.
• 🚚 Kyua's shipping era ended in 1956 with the development of better roads, bigger trucks, and a new deep-water harbor at Kawaihae.

Q & A

What does the name 'Kyua' mean in Hawaiian?

'Kyua' means 'two seas' or 'two currents' in Hawaiian.

What was the significance of Kyua Bay in Hawaiian history?

Kyua Bay was a small Hawaiian village that grew into the political, social, and commercial hub of Kona in the 19th century when Kamehameha I chose it as his final home. It also became the capital of Havi for many years.

Why is Kyua Bay historically important?

Kyua Bay became a favorite royal residence and a center for early missionary activity. It was also one of Kona's few safe natural harbors, frequently visited by sea captains, traders, and whalers.

What role did Kyua Bay play in inter-island travel and commerce?

Once regular inter-island travel and commerce were established, sailing ships and steamers used Kyua Bay as a regular port of call until the mid-1900s.

How was cattle transported from Kyua Bay to Honolulu?

From about 1880 to 1956, local ranchers used Kyua Bay to ship cattle to markets in Honolulu. Cowboys would race across the sand, plunge into the ocean, and swim on horseback to waiting whaleboats.

What changes led to the decline of Kyua Bay as a shipping hub?

Kyua's importance as a cattle shipping town ended when better roads, bigger cattle trucks, and a new deep-water harbor at Kawaihae became available. The last shipments by barge left Kyua in 1956.

What replaced steamers in Kyua Bay during its final years as a cattle shipping town?

During Kyua’s final years as a cattle shipping town, steamers were replaced by a tug and barge system to transport livestock and cargo between Honolulu and the neighbor island ports.

What historic structures still indicate Kyua's past importance?

The Moku Iawa Church is one of the historic structures that indicate Kyua's importance as a favorite royal residence and a center for missionary activity.

What kinds of businesses once crowded the shoreline of Kyua Bay?

The shoreline of Kyua Bay was once bustling with stores, small restaurants, boarding houses, poi factories, and saloons, all benefiting from the regular business brought by ships.

Where can stories of old Kona be found today?

Stories of old Kona can be found in a pamphlet called 'A Guide to Old Kona,' which is presented by the Kona Historical Society.