Nuʻuanu Ave.

In the ahupuaʻa of Honolulu, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands one of the oldest named roads on the island.

We are speaking of Nuʻuanu Ave.

Named in 1850 as Nuʻuanu St, Nuʻuanu Ave was one of the first 35 officially named streets in Honolulu.

The name Nuʻuanu translates as “cool height,” to some, referring to the cool wind that breezes over the top of the Pali.

In the upper valley of Nuʻuanu is a land division named Waolani, meaning the “heavenly mountain area.”

Waolani also speaks to the area of the mountain tops, the space by the gods and where man would not go.

Some stories share that it was here where it is believed the gods built the first heiau, or Hawaiian shrine.

Arguably the most famous story of this area is the Battle of Nuʻuanu, also known as Kaleleakeʻanae.

Imagine Honolulu’s horizon littered with 1,200 war canoes and 12,000 warriors.

Spreading his army out strategically with the ocean to his back, Kamehameha’s forces began to move inland.

On the morning of battle, Kamehameha’s female warriors were noted on the battlefield shooting their muskets.

The spears of the Oʻahu armies were seized by Kamehameha and his warriors and used against them.

Kamehameha was even aware of cannons that were installed within carved notches of the mountain and disabled them.

Instilling fear in his enemies every step of the way, Kamehameha successfully pushed them up and literally over the cliffs of the Koʻolau.

Kamehameha won Oʻahu in 1795, and it took another 15 years before he officially established the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Did you know? Now you do!