UH Maui College and New York University Archaeology Field School

Working on several sites over the past few weeks including Ka`ehu, Lo`iloa, and Waihe`e. A very productive field season!

Mapping at Ka`ehu this morning!

Taking students. volunteers and visiting faculty to Pilale Bay and the Halehaku heiau tomorrow. Should be good fun

Field school start date is fast approaching!

Groups stand in solidarity to protect Native Hawaiian burials, historic sites - Honolulu Magazine -. A new bill is making its way through the Hawaii Legislature that would allow for development to begin on certain projects, prior to an archaeological inventory survey.

Still have room in the summer program. ANTH 281 may 20th to June 14th. Four (4) transferable University credits. Join us this summer and have a great time while you learn valuable survey skills.

todayʻs kuleana took us to the heart of Maui.

The UH-MC/NYU Field School is moving to Ka`ehu in Paukukalo for the Summer of 2013.

The area known as Ka`ehu (`ehu = spray, foam or mist) lies just below two important cultural features on the landscape - Haleki`i and Pihana heiau on the Island of Maui Lying on lithified sand dune to the west of the `Iao stream, these two heiau luakini (temples to the War God Ku) have important links to famous personages. Situated immediately above Ka`ehu, this area was the home to the important chiefs and chiefess of Maui for centuries. Now a 10-acre park the Halekiʻi-Pihana heiau complex overlooks the fertile expanse of Nā Wai ʻEhā ('Four Waters') region irrigated by the Wailuku, Waikapu, Waiheʻe and Waiehu streams. In pre-contact Hawai`i water equaled wealth so it is not surprising the royalty of Maui chose this fecund, verdant landscape for their home.

FIELD SCHOOL ACTIVITES: PHASE I – INITIAL SURVEY
Students will: conduct a comprehensive pedestrian survey to identify cultural features such as ancient lokoi`a (fishponds) and lo`i kalo (taro patches); create a detailed base map using GPS, GIS and other mapping equipment; import modern and historic maps into a GIS database; help oversee and monitor the removal of invasive species in culturally sensitive areas of the site; map in new cultural features as they are uncovered; and work with native Hawaiian lineal descendants, cultural practitioners and other experts to identify archaeological features for future restoration.

The History Channel is interested in the large, green gold obsidian spear point found by my friends in Haleakala Crater four years ago. Peter Mills sources it to Pachuca - the famous obsidian mine of the Olmec

The 2013 field school is up and running at a post-contact site containing a plethora of plantation era features in Manawai`io Gulch above Pe`ahi.