Kikiaola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kikiaola
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Menehune Rd., Waimea, Hawaii |
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| NRHP reference No. | 84000270 |
| Added to NRHP | November 16, 1984 |
Kīkīaola is a very old and special water channel, also called an ʻauwai. It is located near Waimea on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This amazing ditch is also known as the "Menehune Ditch" or "Peekauai Ditch." It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 16, 1984, which means it's an important historical site. Many people believe it was built by the legendary Menehune.
What is Kīkīaola?
Kīkīaola is an ancient irrigation ditch. An irrigation ditch is like a small canal that carries water from one place to another. Ancient Hawaiians used these ditches to bring water to their farms. This helped them grow important crops like taro (kalo). Taro is a root vegetable that was a main food source for Hawaiians.
How Was It Built?
Hawaiians built many stone-lined ʻauwai to water their taro patches. But Kīkīaola is very unique. Most ditches used natural stones. Kīkīaola, however, uses special "dressed stone." This means the stones were carefully cut and shaped to fit together perfectly.
The Special Stones
About 200 feet of the outer wall of the Menehune Ditch is lined with 120 finely cut basalt blocks. Basalt is a type of volcanic rock. Using such carefully shaped stones was very rare for ditches in Hawaii. Because of this, experts call Kīkīaola "the acme of stone-faced ditches." This means it's the best example of its kind. An archaeologist named Wendell C. Bennett said this about the ditch.
The Menehune Legend
The Menehune are a mythical race of small people in Hawaiian folklore. Legends say they were very skilled builders. They could finish huge projects in a single night. Many people believe the Menehune built Kīkīaola because of its amazing and unusual construction. It's a fun story that adds to the mystery of this historic site.
Kīkīaola Harbor
The area near the ditch also has a harbor called Kīkīaola. This harbor is also located near Waimea. So, the name Kīkīaola refers to both the famous ancient ditch and the nearby harbor.
