HAWAII

From the battlefields of Vietnam to the sacred landscapes of Hawai‘i, Billy Fields has devoted his life to service, tradition, and the preservation of Hawaiian cultural heritage. A U.S. Marine Corps Civil Affairs NCO from 1968 to 1972, Fields’ time in Vietnam instilled in him a deep sense of duty and respect for those who came before. When he returned home, he turned that discipline and reverence toward stone — mastering uhau humu pōhaku, the ancient Hawaiian technique of dry-stack masonry passed down by kūpuna (elders). He is owner of Fields Masonry in Kailua-Kona.

Over the decades, Fields has worked on more than 100 significant cultural and historical sites across Hawai‘i — what he fondly calls “from Hilo to Hanalei.” Among his most notable projects is the restoration of Hāpaiali‘i Heiau, where he aligned the structure to mark solstice and equinox sunsets, honoring ancestral knowledge of astronomy. He also restored Kūka‘ō‘ō Heiau in Mānoa and contributed to the reconstruction of Keanakamanō at Kamehameha Schools, complete with terraces, burial mounds, and other culturally vital features.

Fields’ service also extends to honoring fellow veterans through stone. In March 2023, he built a basalt Vietnam War Memorial at the West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery, honoring 15 local service members killed in action with the inscription: Kū koa I ka makani mākaha — “To stand bravely in the fierce winds.” In September 2024, he returned to the same cemetery to construct a distinctive World War II Memorial, once again blending his skills as both a veteran and master mason.

His craftsmanship has earned him some of Hawai‘i’s highest cultural honors. In 2001, the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau awarded him the prestigious Kahili Award for perpetuating Hawaiian culture through his masonry. In 2010, the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation presented him with the Frank Haines Award for his lifelong dedication to restoring sacred sites and teaching the next generation. Nationally, he was invited to participate in the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s “Masters of the Building Arts” program, representing Hawai‘i’s uhau humu pōhaku tradition alongside artisans from across the country. There, he demonstrated volcanic dry-stack masonry, shared its cultural significance, and explained the sacred site preparation process, remarking that “the stones will let you know if you’re doing it wrong.”
For Fields, uhau humu pōhaku is more than a skill — it is a responsibility. He not only masters the physical craft but also learns the accompanying prayers, chants, rituals, and family histories that allow him to work respectfully on sacred ground. Through workshops and classes, he passes this knowledge on, encouraging community awareness and involvement in preservation.

Perhaps the most profound and spiritual aspect of his work is his role in the reinterment of iwi kūpuna (ancestral remains). Over his lifetime, Fields has reinterred more than 2,500 individuals whose bones were uncovered during construction or erosion. When notified of such a discovery, he follows traditional Hawaiian burial customs meant to honor the deceased and safeguard their mana (spiritual power). The process is carried out at night to preserve its sanctity, beginning with ritual cleansing in the ocean, often using limu kala (sacred seaweed) in the hi‘uwai purification rite. The remains are then carefully returned to the earth in a process known as kanu — “planting” — symbolizing the return of the ancestors to the land so their spirit can continue to nourish future generations. Throughout, Fields offers traditional prayers and chants, recounting family histories and acknowledging the spiritual essence of the deceased.

Billy Fields stands as a rare figure—a man whose military valor, cultural stewardship, spiritual grounding, and architectural mastery are all woven into a single life’s work. Through his stones, his stories, and his teachings, he ensures that Native Hawaiian traditions not only endure but continue to inspire future generations.