Ahupuaʻa ʻo Kahana

Kahana was a thriving fishing and farming community prior to Western contact. Those living in Kahana had an abundance of fresh water and fertile soil on the valley floor to cultivate kalo (taro), the staple crop. The loçi (ponded fields of kalo) were irrigatedby çauwai (ditches) that diverted water from the streams to the fields. Kahana Bay provided a wealth of fish and shellfish. In the 19th Century, following the unification of the Hawaiian Islands by Kamehameha I, the population rapidly declined as a result of Western contact and the introduction of foreign diseases. Sugar cane cultivation and the use of the valley as a WWII jungle warfare training site, have altered the natural and cultural environment of Kahana. Trail Conditions: • Trails can be wet, muddy, and slippery. • Trails traverse uneven terrain with drop-offs along the sides of the trail. Watch where you walk and keep your eyes on the trail. • There are two stream crossings along the Nakoa Trail that may require wading through water that is ankle to knee deep. There are slippery rocks in the stream, so proceed with caution. • Do not cross the stream if it has been raining and the water is high and fast moving. Turn around and return the way you came. • The trails can get dark quickly because of the dense vegetation. Start your hike early in the day and allow enough time to complete your hike by late afternoon. • Expect mosquitos along the trail. Checklist for Your Hike: • • • • Good hiking boots • Water and snack Mosquito repellent • First aid kit Sunscreen and hat • Rain gear Whistle or cellular phone in case of emergencies LEPTOSPIROSIS WARNING Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease found in fresh water. Do NOT drink the water or enter the stream with open cuts. Ahupua‘a ‘O Kahana State Park 52-222 Kamehameha Highway (808) 237-7767 http://www.hawaiistateparks.org H A AWAI TE I State of Hawai‘i Department of Land & Natural Resources DIVISION OF STATE PARKS ST The primary purpose of this park is to nurture and foster native Hawaiian cultural traditions and the cultural landscape of rural windward Oçahu. Established as a “living park”, there are thirty-one families living in the ahupuaça of Kahana. These families assist with interpretive programs that share the Hawaiian values and lifestyle. If you have a group interested in a cultural program at the park, please call 237-7767. Hikers have gotten lost by leaving the trails in Kahana. Stay on the designated trails and follow the signs and arrows. Heed warnings along the trails. KS Ahupuaça çO Kahana State Park is located on the windward side of Oçahu, between Käne‘ohe and Läçie, and 26 miles from Honolulu. Kahana is a relatively unspoiled valley, and one of only a few publicly owned ahupuaça, or ancient Hawaiian land division, in the state. An ahupuaça includes lands from the mountains to the sea (mauka-makai), encompassing all of the resource zones needed for subsistence. The ahupuaça of Kahana encompasses almost 5,300 acres, ranging from sea level at Kahana Bay to 2,670 feet at Puçu Pauao on the crest of the Koçolau mountains. Kahana is one of the wettest valleys on Oçahu. Overcast skies and showers are frequent, with an average annual rainfall of 75” along the coast to 300” at the back of the valley. Temperatures can range from the mid-60s to the mid-80s. PA R (formerly Kahana Valley State Park) Archaeologists from the Bishop Museum found extensive remnants of Hawaiian culture in the valley, including a heiau (religious temple), koça (fishing shrines), fishponds, house sites, stone-walled enclosures, çauwai (irrigation channels), agricultural terraces, walls and planting areas. While many of these sites are inaccessible to the public, Kapaçeleçele Koça and Keaniani Kilo (lookout) are accessible via a trail on the west side of the valley mouth. From the kilo, the kilo iça, or fish watcher, spied schools of akule in the bay and signaled to valley residents who would collectively net them. Huilua Fishpond, the most impressive site in the valley, and presently under restoration, can be visited from the east side of the bay. Hunting is allowed within designated hunting boundaries, on weekends and holidays ONLY. Permits must be obtained IN PERSON from the park office in Honolulu. Gobies (oçopu), Hawaii‘s only native freshwater fish, can be found in the middle and lower valley streams. Mullet (çamaçama) and Milkfish (awa) are commonly seen in and around Huilua Fishpond. Huilua Fishpond and other lowland areas are also home to the Black Crowned Night Heron (çauku‘u), and the Golden Plover (kolea), as well as two endangered species, the Hawaiian Coot (çalae keçokeço) and the Hawaiian Gallinule (çalae çula). The upper valley supports native songbirds such as çapapane and çamakihi, as well as introduced species such as mynahs, cardinals, ricebirds and doves. Kahana is also an ideal habitat for feral pigs. Introduced by the original Polynesian colonizers, and later interbred with European species, these animals are very destructive to the few surviving native Hawaiian ecosystems. There are two hiking trails available to the public. Both are relatively easy walking, but trails may be muddy. No permits are required, and detailed trail maps are available at the Orientation Center. • Kapaçeleçele Koça and Keaniani Lookout Trail is a one mile long loop trail that begins at the Orientation Center and takes about one hour. The trail passes two cultural sites and offers stunning views of Kahana Bay. • Nakoa Trail is named for the koa trees found along this 3.5 mile loop trail through a tropical rain forest. The loop hike takes about 2.5 hours. The total length of the hike is 4.5 miles from the parking area. The trailhead can be reached by walking 0.6-mile up the road. This trail crosses Kahana Stream twice - use caution. Fruit picking when in season. There are ten (10) beach campsites in the park. Camping is by permit only. Camping permits may be obtained from the State Parks office in Honolulu (587-0300) or online at www.hawaiistateparks.org. There is a fee per campsite per night. Please check the State Parks website for rates and availability. Mau loa nö ko‘u mahalo nui I ka nani pünono o Kahana Ka moani ‘a‘ala anuhea O nä pali a‘o Ko‘olauloa Composed by Mary Montano He maile kaluhea ia la‘i Ha‘aheo a kea o naulu & Charles E. King Ulu a‘e ka mana‘o he aloha la Kuini pua o Kahana Forever I shall sing the praises Of Kahana’s beauty unsurpassed The fragrance of the mountains By the breezes to thee is wafted Fragrance of maile in the stillness Is stirred by the sudden showers The ulu brings thoughts of love and Desire for the flowers of Kahana The expanse of land in Kahana Valley from the sea to the mountains contains many different vegetation zones. The lowlands consist of koa, hibiscus, shrub, hala, and pastureland. Further up the valley, in the wetter areas, çöhiça lehua is dominant, with intermittently mixed forest scrub of bamboo, mountain apple, guava, ti and other species. Do not eat any fruit you are unfamiliar with.