You can't get blood from a stone, but if you squeeze it hard enough, you can get water. That's just what's happening in a little city park on Kunawai Street in Liliha. Water percolating through the mountains flows downhill until it hits a less-porous strata and then it follows the path of least resistance to the surface. Magic of Kunawai Springs
Kunawai Springs is such a place. Springs around the world are celebrated for their magical properties and Kunawai was no exception. Ancient Hawaiians considered it a healing center and the clay-like mud from the pond bottoms was thought to perform miracles on irritated skin and falling hair. Liliha had many such springs, and the sacred pools were Kuna-wai-nui, Kuna-wai-iki, Kuna-wai-olena, Kuma-hahana, Kalua Palolo and Kalia Moo.
In this century, most Liliha ponds were drilled out as wells, and those that were left, like Kunawai, became neighborhood swimming holes. In 1947, the city announced plans to convert Kunawai into a park, and they got around to it in the mid-'60s.
The pond bottom was scraped, deep holes drilled to channel water in an organized direction, a lava rock-and-concrete rim plopped down around it and trees and benches added to landscape the area.
Today, water still jets out of the rock, cool and fresh, and the quiet, shady spot is a favorite retreat for Liliha residents. Although there's litter occasionally, the area is so peaceful that guitarists like to practice there.
Burl Burlingame, Star-Bulletin.