Lei are often associated with wahi pana, and so it is important to understand the place as well as the lei. At one time, the cinder cone of Hālaʻi, and the forests of Haili and Mokaulele were renowned for the beauty of their deep scarlet ʻōhiʻa-lehua, which were extolled in stories, chants, songs, and hula.
It is important that we understand the distinctions between these places. Today, many people call Hālaʻi, the puʻu, or cinder cone, near Hilo Intermediate School, Haili Hill. It is not named Haili Hill. Haili was the forest at the base of the hill, which extended down toward where the Hilo Boys and Girls Club now stands. The hill is named Hālaʻi. “Hālaʻi” translates to English as “calm.” “Haili” is a sudden remembrance, or a ghost or spirit.
Hālaʻ i is pronounced [haah-LAH ee]. Haili is pronounced [ha-ee lee]. Do not confuse haili and hāʻ ili! Remember, haili translates as “sudden rembrance.” Hāʻ ili [haah EE-lee], which is a short form of hāʻ iliʻ ili, translates as “to revile, curse!” Not at all a good name for a church.
The lei lehua is the most famous lei of Punahoa and of Hilo. Many oli and mele honor this lei, and the environment in which it thrives.
The lei hala also is beloved in Hilo, especially in Panaʻewa. But it is usually associated with Puna and with Hiʻiakaikapoliopele.
Hālaʻi, Haili, and Mokaulele are part of the Punahoa ahupuaʻa, and their rains and waterways are critical to the plants and animals of this area. The upper portion of Punahoa shares the Pi`ihonua weather system, resulting in the “rain line” you may have noticed, which ends just above Lyman House, more or less at the Boys and Girls Club.
Rains of this area include:
Hukiheʻenehu, a fine rain which comes in from the ocean at early morning.
Lanipōlua, a fine rain with heavy dark clouds that settles in for the day.
Hālaulani, associates with the budding of the hala trees.
Palahīnano, associated with the blossoming of the hala trees.
Lehua, a chill, fragrant rain.
Kanilehua, a loud, drenching rain, and the most famous of Hilo’s rains.
You can learn more about the rains of Hawaiʻi in this excellent book:
Hāla`i [hah-LAH-ee] is the ancient name for the pu`u (hill/cindercone) across the street from Hilo Intermediate School. It is the home of Hinaikeahi [Hina-of-the-fire], a goddess of fire, and sister to Hinakuluua [Rain-drop-Hina], and Hina of the waterfall at Waiānuenue.
Hālaʻi was renowned for the beautiful deep red `ōhi`a-lehua which bloomed , and for the strength of its `ohe, bamboo, which was exceptionally long and strong. Unfortunately, when the hill was cleared for development, all of the beautiful `ōhi`a-lehua and the unique type of native bamboo was destroyed. The bamboo we see covering the mauka side of Hāla`i today is an invasive temperate region species which was planted on here in the late 80s.
Haili was an ancient `ōhi`a forest which no longer exists. Haili church was built from `ōhi`a timbers logged from this forest. The church was then named for the forest, a common naming practice at the time. The forest was pretty much logged out, and then what was left was made into sugar fields. What is now Haili Street was known as Church Street at first, and then when this area was developed, my understanding is that the Haili Church membership either paid for paving and extension of the street, or took a lead in accomplishing that, so the street was named for the church. Or, it may have been named for the forest, as the street terminates near where the forest edge once was.
Mokaulele forest still has remnants near ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and extending ma uka of Komohana, but with continuing development, even this may soon be gone as well.