OVER 956 ACRES OF KĀNE‘OHE PALI PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY
Land acquisition protects O‘ahu’s primary watershed and honors generations of stewardship
KĀNE‘OHE, O‘AHU — Trust for Public Land and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW), today announced the permanent protection of Kāne‘ohe Pali, encompassing more than 956 acres of natural and cultural landscape stretching from Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout to H-3. The acquisition will preserve one of O‘ahu’s most important watersheds in perpetuity through a partnership between TPL, the state of Hawai’i, the Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This watershed supplies 60 percent of O‘ahu’s drinking water and provides 1.05 million gallons daily to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. From Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden, visitors can look toward the Ko‘olau range and see the scenic mountains and waterfalls that will now be preserved for future generations.
“Conserving Kāne‘ohe Pali honors the generations who came before us and ensures that the people of Hawai‘i will always have a connection to this place,” said Gov. Josh Green. “The protection of this land is a recognition of the cultural legacy it represents and a commitment to the environment that sustains us.”
“Home to many native species and hundreds of cultural sites, Kāne‘ohe Pali is vital to water security, climate resilience and the preservation of Native Hawaiian culture,” said U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. “Permanent protection of Kāne‘ohe Pali is long overdue, and I have worked alongside my colleagues in the Hawai‘i congressional delegation to support this initiative and honor generations of land stewardship. The conservation of this land will not only protect our unique ecosystem but also ensure that future generations are able to appreciate Kāne‘ohe Pali and everything it represents for years to come.”
“Protecting these lands will benefit generations to come, promoting a healthy watershed, providing clean drinking water to local communities, preserving critical habitat, expanding forest restoration, and strengthening opportunities for environmental and cultural education. We’re proud to have delivered federal funding to help bring this project to life,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.
Adorned by the misty cliffs of the Ko‘olau Mountains, Kāne‘ohe Pali is home to springs, waterfalls, 11 streams and native forest that form critical habitat for 31 native species, including the Hawaiian hoary bat and three damselflies. The land also contains hundreds of cultural sites, including the historic Kekele Trail, heiau, terraces, irrigation channels and burials, reflecting generations of Native Hawaiian stewardship.
“As a lifelong Kāneʻohe resident, the Koʻolau mountains are part of who we are — it is our identity, our history, our home. We feel a deep connection to these lands, and with that comes our kuleana to protect and preserve them,” said U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). “These Kāneʻohe Pali lands have protected and sustained our community for generations, and this monumental public-private partnership ensures they will continue to do so for generations to come.”
“Since 2017, DLNR and our partners have been working to purchase these lands for our community,” shared Dawn Chang, Chair, Board of Land and Natural Resources. “This watershed is vital for the recharge of our fresh water supplies, and its streams nourish the estuaries and coral reefs of Kāne‘ohe Bay and He‘eia National Estuarine Reserve. With careful management, we will improve habitat for native fish, invertebrates and a number of endangered species. We also look forward to restoring the lo‘i to productivity and providing managed public access for recreation and traditional cultural uses.”
The preservation of this land will also provide benefits to Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). MCBH provides land, air, sea, and amphibious training for US and foreign militaries, preparing for large-scale joint operations and humanitarian relief.
“We’re excited to celebrate the State of Hawaiʻi’s acquisition of Kāneʻohe Pali through our strong partnership with conservation leaders. This effort protects a vital watershed while providing a buffer to training space for our Marines at Marine Corps Base Hawaii,” said Col. Jeremy W. Beaven, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
The preservation of Kāne‘ohe Pali was made possible through the support of many partners, benefiting the community.
“This is a huge win for the people of the windward side. Every Koʻolau resident has traversed these precious mauka lands, and our community is now assured that they will be protected for our grandchildren and beyond,” said State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole.
“This is a big win for preserving the critical areas that make our community the special place it is, protecting natural habitat and species, and will be forever held in the public trust for the benefit of future generations,” said State Sen. Chris Lee.
“Mahalo to the Kāneʻohe community for their continued advocacy in preserving our natural and cultural resources, as well as to Trust for Public Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Marine Corp Base Hawaiʻi for their stewardship of this land. I am honored to have played a small part in helping to protect our ʻāina for generations to come,” said State Rep. Lisa Kitagawa.
“Protecting these lands in perpetuity will not only keep native ecosystems alive, but it will also keep the culture, natural resources, and beauty of Kāneʻohe flourishing for our keiki,” said State Rep. Scot Z. Matayoshi. “This land acquisition represents years of hard work from public and private conservationists, and is a great example of how much we can accomplish by working together as a community.”
“This extraordinary acquisition will allow access for hiking, hunting and Hawaiian cultural uses such as gathering hala (pandanus) and other forest products used for food, fiber and medicine,” said Kathleen Friday, Forest Legacy Program Manager of the Pacific Southwest Region, USDA Forest Service.
“This project ensures that these resource-rich, important and scenic Kāneʻohe Pali lands will be managed and protected in perpetuity,” said Aka Wedemeyer, Sustainable Hawaiʿi Project Manager for Trust for Public Land. “By working together with the state and the Kāneʻohe community, we are helping to safeguard O‘ahu’s water supply, preserve and restore native forests, create increased opportunities for managed public access and recreation, and provide for Native Hawaiian traditional and customary gathering and access to the cultural sites that connect people to this landscape.”
Funding for the acquisition included the State of Hawaiʻi Legacy Land Conservation Program, from the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, and from the USDA Forest Legacy Program. DLNR-DOFAW will own and manage the property in collaboration with local nonprofits and the Kāne‘ohe community to continue restoration and long-term stewardship of the area.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that connects everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they’re needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $111 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
About DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife
The DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife protects, manages, and restores natural and cultural resources in collaboration with the people of Hawaiʻi. The Division manages over 1M acres of public lands, including Forest Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Natural Area Reserves, and Public Hunting Areas. The division’s programs work toward a future with thriving native ecosystems and opportunities for the people of Hawaiʻi to engage with nature. Learn more here.
About the State of Hawai‘i’s Legacy Land Conservation Program
The Legacy Land Conservation Program provides grants to community organizations and government agencies that strive to purchase and protect land that shelters exceptional, unique, threatened, and endangered resources. Learn more here.
About the USDA Forest Legacy Program
The Forest Legacy Program is a conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with State agencies to encourage the voluntary protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases. Learn more here.
About the DOD Readiness Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI)
Established in 2002 as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program preserves military missions by supporting cost-sharing agreements between the Military Services, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations to avoid land use conflicts near military installations, address environmental restrictions that limit military activities, and increase military installation resilience.
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Madelene Hissom
Megan Uyeno
