Key Purchases to Protect the North Kohala Coast
Opening the Leeward Coast Step by Step

Honoipu –Once a part of the Coast Guard Loran Station, this land includes part of Old Coast Guard Road and the parking lot at the Na Ala Hele coastal trailhead. It has been on the County Open Space Priority List since 2018. Talks are underway to transfer ownership of the road and parking lot to the County.

Puakea Trail – The State was granted ownership of a trail corridor along the cliff top by the State Land Board as a result of action brought by Kohala residents. The trail is administered by the Na Ala Hele trail program. Erosion of the cliff means the trail needs to be realigned.

Kukuipahu – Because of outstanding historic sites and recreational use, this land is singled out by the North Kohala Community Development Plan (NKCDP) for preservation. It has been on the County Open Space Priority List for purchase annually since 2007. Talks have been ongoing with Parker Ranch for conservation of the makai portion.

Mahukona –Purchase by Hawaii Land Trust (HILT) of 642 acres of land was completed in December 2023. Mahukona is Kohala’s primary ocean recreation area and home to hundreds of historic sites including a famous navigational heiau. Once zoned for resort development, the NKCDP in 2008 called for public purchase of the land, which has been on the County Open Space Priority List since 2006. Funds have been raised from federal, state, county, and private sources.

Lapakahi – Though the land once held a place on the County Priority List, the 17 acres were purchased in 2011 with State Legacy Land Preservation Funds (LLPF) and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant with the help of The Trust for Public Lands. It is now part of Lapakahi State Historical Park.

Lamaloloa – Once slated for resort development, this 35-acre parcel was recently purchased by the National Park Service. It has appeared on the County Open Space Priority List annually since 2014.

Pao’o – Home to a popular surf break and many historic sites, the 10.6-acre parcel was the focus of several legal battles to prevent construction of large vacation homes. It was finally purchased in 2010 with matching funds from the County Open Space Fund and the State LLPF. The County holds title.

Kaiholena North – In the 1980s the land division of Kaiholena was rezoned for resort and golf course. In 2000 it was subdivided into six parcels. All parcels were named for public purchase in the NKCDP and listed annually on the County Open Space Priority List for many years. The first three lots totaling 151 acres were purchased outright by the County Open Space Fund in 2010. The land is highly significant, both culturally and historically.

Kaiholena Central – The next two parcels, totaling 77 acres, were purchased in 2013 with two thirds of the price coming from the State LLPF and the rest from the County Open Space Fund. The County holds title to the land. Kohala Lihikai is the current steward of both the Kaiholena and Pao’o parcels

Kaiholena South – The last 35-acre parcel was purchased in 2015 with funds primarily from the State LLPF. The rest was raised by the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, which holds the title. Several private donors were joined by Hawaii Land Trust (HILT), which holds a conservation easement on the land.

Kaupalaoa – Another site once designated for resort development, this 64-acre parcel was first named to the Open Space Priority List in 2018. It was purchased by the North Kohala Land Trust in 2021,

Keawenui – This popular fishing and former camping site has been listed every year on the County’s Open Space Priority List since 2010. Privately owned, it is known to have pre-Western contact historic sites and old fishing villages.

Protecting the Homeland of King Kamehameha

The homeland of Hawaii’s first king – the Kula Iwi O Kamehameha – spans over four miles of north coast land and is a favorite place for fishing, surfing and community recreation. Keeping it free of development has taken years of cooperative work.

Kauhola Point. The28 acres of land at Lighthouse, were acquired in 2012 with money from the State Legacy Land Conservation Fund and local fundraising by Maika’i Kamakani O Kohala, the non-profit that holds title for the people of Kohala. The Trust for Public Lands helped arrange the purchase, which included a hefty discount by the landowners.

Halelua. This mile-long stretch of coast, whose 50 acres includes much of Halawa Gulch and the remnants of O’hau Heiau was purchased by the County of Hawaii using Open Space funding in 2023. It had been listed high on the County Priority List since 2012.

Hapu’u. The County of Hawaii purchased the first 22 acres using Open Space funding in March 2018. This is a very popular fishing site and home of Hale O Ka’ili Heiau. The land is stewarded by Kohala Lihikai. 

Kapanaia I. In August 2021 Hawaii County completed purchase of 93.5 acres that includes Kapanaia Bay, Kapalama Heiau and Walaohia Gulch. Kohala groups helped raise matching funds from the State Legacy Land Preservation program. The land is stewarded by Kohala Lihikai.

Kapanaia II. In 2022 19 acresof land in the Kua Iwi O Kamehameha was purchased by the County of Hawaii.

Kapanaia III. In 2023 23.6 acres of land in the Kula Iwi O Kamehameha was purchased by the County of Hawaii. This completed the preservation of the area called the Hapu’u to Kapanaia Cultural Corridor.

Niuli’i. The critical habitat between Keokea Park and Neue Bay was listed high on the County’s Open Space Priority List for five years. In 2016 the owners donated 48 acres of land to The Kohala Center, a Waimea-based non-profit dedicated to land stewardship, conservation of native species and educational activities.

Map created by John Winter and Toni Withington