History of Helumoa

In the 16th century, O‘ahu ruler Mā‘ilikūkahi relocated his court from central O‘ahu to Waikīkī. The abundance of fresh water made the area ideal for agriculture. Mā‘ililkūkahi established Waikīkī as the royal seat of government and brought about decades of peace and prosperity.

Six generations later, his descendent, Kākuhihewa, encountered the supernatural rooster Ka‘auhelemoa who flew down to Waikīkī from Pālolo valley to challenge him. Furiously scratching into the earth, the impressive rooster then vanished. Kākuhihewa took this as an omen and planted niu or coconuts at that very spot. Helumoa, meaning "chicken scratch," was the name he bestowed on that niu planting that would multiply into a grove of over 10,000 trees.

Years after his conquest of O‘ahu in 1795, King Kamehameha I established a home in the Helumoa coconut grove names Kūihelani, guarded by stately coconut trees that resembled kāhili - royal feather standards of the ancients. In the 1880s, Helumoa was inherited by Kamehamehaʻs great-granddaughter, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

Today, Helumoa is home to Royal Hawaiian Center. Learn more about our fascinating history in the Kaulani Heritage Room in the Royal Grove, adjacent to Lei ‘Ohu Guest Services.