Excavations at John Young's Homestead, Kawaihae, Hawaii: Archeology at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

This report describes the archeological excavation of the first Western style structure in Hawai'i. The structure is one of the Western style features, Structure 2, of the John Young Homestead and is part of Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, Hawai'i island. Archeological excavation was conducted under the direction of Paul H.
Rosendahl, Ph.D. in 1978.

A brief summary of Kawaihae is presented through excerpts taken from visitors journals who stopped in the area during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Their recollections of the terrain and people provide the historical setting for interpreting the John Young Homestead. The archeological importance of this site is also presented by correlating the results of this project to previous archeological work in the West Hawai'i region in general and more specifically the Kawaihae area within the district of South Kohala.

Excavation methods and results are also presented. Over 1,150 portable remains were identified including traditional Hawaiian objects, Western objects and non-artifactual remains. These remains represent a sample of the material possessions of Young and his family at their homestead between 1793 and 1840. Traditional items such as sea urchin spine abraders and volcanic glass flakes were recovered next to English cream ware and Chinese porcelain vessel fragments. All artifacts were classified, described, and many of these are illustrated. The importance of the archeology at this site is provided and guidelines to the interpretive prospectus are also given.