Moanalua

Tripler Army Medical Center viewed from Moanalua Gardens at sunset

Moanalua is a valley, a stream, an ahupuaʻa, and a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The valley extends inland from behind Āliapaʻakai crater (Salt Lake) to the crest of the Koʻolau Range.

Neighboring areas include Māpunapuna and Salt Lake on the south, Fort Shafter on the east, and Red Hill and Hālawa Valley on the west.

Moanalua is a part of the 15th District of the Hawaii Senate, currently represented by State Senator Norman Sakamoto. It is also a part of the 31st District of the Hawaii House of Representatives, currently represented by Glenn Wakai.

Location

The Moanalua neighhborhood includes a portion that extends up Ala Aolani Street into the valley 21°22′0″N 157°53′36″W / 21.366667°N 157.89333°W / 21.366667; -157.89333Coordinates: 21°22′0″N 157°53′36″W / 21.366667°N 157.89333°W / 21.366667; -157.89333, and another part that extends eastward along the lower slopes of the interfluve (slopes between valleys) to Fort Shafter and into the small valley of Manaiki Stream. The latter part includes Tripler Army Medical Center above the neighborhood and Moanalua Gardens below it.

History

Samuel Mills Damon inherited the ahupuaʻa (uplands-to-sea tract) of Moanalua in 1884 from Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, whose husband Charles Reed Bishop was a business partner of Damon. Before her, since the lands were won in battle by Kamehameha I they passed from Kameʻeiamoku to Ulumāheihei Hoapili, then to Prince Lot Lot Kapuāiwa (who became King Kamehameha V), and Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.^[1]

Damon later became one of the first trustees of the Kamehameha Schools established by the Bishops. The Damon estate sold much of Moanalua to commercial and residential developers in 1956.

Moanalua Gardens

Main article: Moanalua Gardens

One of many trees at Moanalua Gardens

Moanalua Gardens are inland from the Interstate H-201 which is known as the Moanalua Freeway, off Exit 3. One of its monkey pod trees is seen on Hitachi's Japanese TV commercials, and is occasionally referred to as Hitachi no ki (ja:日立の樹^?, "Hitachi tree") in Japan.^[2]

The gardens were a gift to the public from Damon and maintained by a trust since his death in 1924. It was one of Hawaiʻi's earliest public parks although has remained privately owned.

References

1. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui and Elbert (2004). "lookup of Moanalua". on Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii. http://wehewehe.org/cgi-bin/hdict?a=q&j=pp&l=en&q=Moanalua. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 
2. ^ "The Hitachi Tree on-line". web site. Hitachi, Ltd.. http://www.hitachi.com/hitachitree/en/index.html. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 

• Gomes, Andrew. 2004. Moanalua Valley's future still unclear. Honolulu Advertiser. Monday, November 29, 2004.