Stone Ahu Marker Rededicated Dec. 6 At Castle Junction

(from left) Alice Hewett, Mapuana de Silva and Terry George pay tribute with leis at the blessing of the restored stone ahu marker. Photo by Mahealani Cypher.

The stone ahu marker at Castle Junction has developed a mo’olelo of its own over the past few months.

As the story goes, the stone platform was first dedicated July 27 by Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club and sponsors to honor the traditional of marking the boundary between ahupua’a – this one being the division between Kailua and Kaneohe.

But on Aug. 24, it was destroyed in broad daylight by a vandal who may not have realized its significance to Native Hawaiians. The club quickly appealed to the public for about $2,500 in restoration funds.

New chapter: Cultural representatives gathered Dec. 6 at the shaded triangle to bless and rededicate the stone ahu, which was rebuilt by Billy Fields, the same master stonemason who erected the original one at the intersection of the two Windward highways.

Primary funders for the work were Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hawaii Tourism Authority.