Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park

Entrance to Kahana Valley

Ahupuaʻa O Kahana State Park, formerly Kahana Valley State Park, is located on the windward side of Oʻahu between Kaʻaʻawa and Punaluʻu.^[1] The park is located mauka (up hill) from Kahana Bay. It is Hawaii's only public ahupuaʻa, and it stretches from the sea to the tip of Puʻu Pauao at 2670 feet. It has a tropical climate, and it is one of the wettest areas in Oʻahu, averaging nearly 300 inches per year in parts of the valley. The main purpose of the park is to embrace and teach Hawaiian culture.^[2]

History

Before Western civilization came to the islands, Kahana had a strong community. It had fresh water, abundant seafood, and a stable supply of taro, which was grown in fields with advanced irrigation systems. However, around the time of King Kamehameha's unification of Hawaii in the 1800s, the community fell into steep decline due to foreign diseases, sugarcane cultivation and the military's use of the valley as a World War II jungle warfare training center, through the arrival of Europeans. In the early 1900s most of the valley was owned by Mary E. Foster, and after her death the valley was given to Bishop Estate. The state proposed a purchase of the ahupua'a, which was rejected. The Foster estate was not satisfied with the purchase plan, which was for $5,000,000 being paid 1 million per year for 5 years, as the then current legislature could not ensure future payments. The state forced the purchase through condemnation, later fulfilling their debt.^[3] The land later became a state park. Today, only 31 families live in the valley.

Fauna

Kahana State Park supports a wide variety of birds and fish. Oʻopu naniha (Stenogobius hawaiiensis), a native freshwater fish, can be found in the streams of the lower valley. ʻAmaʻama (flathead mullet, Mugil cephalus) and milkfish (Chanos chanos) are common in the Huilua Fishpond. Bird species that can be found in the lower valley include Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), sanderling (Calidris alba), wandering tattler (Tringa incana), ʻaukuʻu (black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax), ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai), and ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian gallinule, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis). The last two species are endangered. In the upper valley are many native species of songbirds, such as the ʻapapane (Himatione sanguinea) and Oʻahu ʻamakihi (Hemignathus flavus), along with non-native species of mynah, cardinal, dove and ricebird.^[4]

Feral pigs were introduced to the valley by the first Polynesian settlers. While this is an ideal environment for the pigs, these animals are a serious threat to the rest of the valley.

Flora

The expanse of land in Kahana Valley from the sea to the mountains contains many different vegetation zones. The lowlands consist of koa (Acacia koa), hibiscus, hala (Pandanus tectorius), and pasture. Further up the valley, in the wetter areas, the dominant vegetation consists of mountain apple (Syzygium malaccense), strawberry guava (Psidium littorale), ti (Cordyline fruticosa) and bamboo.

Activities

Hiking

There are two hiking trails in the valley, both of which do not require permits and are suitable for whole families. The first is Kapa'ele'ele Ko'a and Keaniani Lookout Trail. It is a mile long loop that takes a decent hiker roughly an hour. The second is the Nakoa Trail, which is named so for the numerous koa (Acacia koa) found along this 2.5-mile trail through tropical rainforest. Hikers on this trail can swim in the Kahana stream, which is traversed twice.

Camping and hunting

There are ten campsites located on the beach which can be used by permit only. Hunting is also permitted within designated boundaries on weekends and holidays only, and by permit only.

References

↑ "Hawaii State Parks: Oahu: Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-14.
↑ "Hawaii State Parks: Oahu: Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park". Retrieved 2010-01-13.
↑ http://hawaii.gov/lrb/rpts01/kahana.pdf
↑ "State of Hawaiʻi: Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-13.

Coordinates: 21°32′06″N 157°52′19″W / 21.535°N 157.872°W / 21.535; -157.872

Protected areas of Hawaii

Federal

National Parks	Haleakalā Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

National Historical Parks & Sites	Kalaupapa NHP Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP Puʻukoholā Heiau NHS Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP

National Monuments	Papahānaumokuākea Marine World War II Valor in the Pacific

National Marine Sanctuary	Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale

National Wildlife Refuges	Hakalau Forest Hanalei Hawaiian Islands Huleia James Campbell Kakahaia Kealia Pond Kilauea Point Kona Forest Oahu Forest

Wilderness Areas	Haleakala Hawaii Volcanoes

State Parks,
Monuments
Recreation Areas
and Preserves

Hawaiʻi (island)	Akaka Falls State Park Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area Hulihee Palace Kalopa State Recreation Area Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park Kohala Historical Sites State Monument Kona Coast (Kekaha Kai) State Park Kīholo State Park Reserve Lapakahi State Historical Park Lava Tree State Monument MacKenzie State Recreation Area Manuka State Wayside Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve Mauna Kea State Recreation Area Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area Wailoa River State Recreation Area Wailuku River State Park

Kaua‘i	Ahukini State Recreation Pier Ha'ena State Park Koke'e State Park Nā Pali Coast State Park Polihale State Park Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park Wailua River State Park Waimea Canyon State Park Waimea State Recreational Pier

Maui	Haleki'i-Pihana Heiau State Monument ʻĪao Valley State Monument Kaumahina State Wayside Park Makena State Park Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area Pua'a Ka'a State Wayside Park Wai'anapanapa State Park Wailua Valley State Wayside Park

Moloka‘i	Pala'au State Park

O‘ahu	Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park 'Aiea Bay State Recreation Area Diamond Head State Monument Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve He‘eia State Park ‘Iolani Palace State Monument Ka'ena Point State Park Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline Kaka'ako Waterfront Park Kea'iwa Heiau State Recreation Area Kewalo Basin Kukaniloko Birthstones State Monument La'ie Point State Wayside Makapu‘u Point State Wayside Malaekahana State Recreation Area Nu'uanu Pali State Wayside Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Wayside Queen Emma Summer Palace Royal Mausoleum State Monument Sacred Falls State Park Sand Island State Recreation Area Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site Wa'ahila Ridge State Recreation Area Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area

Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources

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