The land known as Hamakua today is a small part of a land division known as Keahupua'anui in olden days. This was an 'ili land division.

The people of old used this land of Keahupua'anui for canoe paddling, fishing, farming, and construction of houses too. All members of the community helped in ancient times.

I think that this place was called Keahupua'anui because it had so many of the things that an ahupua'a (a slice of land from fishing grounds to the mountain summit) could provide for the needs of the people. Keahupua'anui was a large land division.

In Keahupua'anui there were four places to go: to the sea, upland to the top of Pu'u o 'Ehu, to the food gardens, and to the village. Four lands are close to Keahupua'anui: Pohakupu, Wai'auia, Kawainui, and Pu'u o 'Ehu.