An Ancient Lo‘i Kalo in Hakipu‘u Protected Forever

HAKIPU‘U, O‘AHU – Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), Hoʻāla ‘Āina Kūpono (Ho'āla), the Fukumitsu ‘ohana, the City and County of Honolulu’s Clean Water and Natural Lands Program (CWNL), and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP) announced today the acquisition and protection of 1.5 acres known as Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo located in Hakipu‘u, Ko‘olaupoko, O‘ahu.

For over a decade the Hakipu‘u community and kuleana descendants have been working to protect Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo. This 1.5 acre lo‘i kalo (wetland taro patch) sits at the foot of the Ko‘olau mountains, Kāneʻohe Bay, and neighboring Mōliʻi Fishpond. These lo‘i have been in active cultivation since ancient times, and are some of the last lo‘i in Hakipu‘u; a place once overseen by Hawaiʻi’s kahuna, and revered to this day for its traditional navigators.

Threatened by development and an end to kalo farming and community access, The Trust for Public Land worked in partnership with the Hakipu‘u community for over 8 years to find a conservation solution to protect these lo‘i. TPL took out a loan in 2016 to purchase the land and acted as a temporary bridge owner, allowing the community needed time to raise the funds to purchase the land. TPL led the effort to raise $1 million in public funds to purchase and protect the land and convey it to community ownership under Ho'āla ‘Āina Kūpono. “We were humbled to work closely with the Hakipu‘u community, the Fukumitsu ‘ohana, and Ho'āla ‘Āina Kūpono to protect Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo. This community teaches all of us by example what it means to mālama ʻāina. We are confident that under community stewardship, Hakipu‘u Lo‘i will thrive and live on as a stronghold of Hawaiian agriculture and cultural practice,” said Reyna Ramolete Hayashi, Project Manager, The Trust for Public Land.

The City and County of Honolulu’s Clean Water and Natural Lands Program acquired a real property interest in the form of a conservation easement valued at $650,000, and the State of Hawai‘i’s Legacy Land Conservation Program granted $350,000 to Hoʻāla ‘Āina Kūpono to purchase and protect the land.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Hakipu‘u community, area schools, and kuleana descendants to steward this ʻāina as a kalo farm and an outdoor classroom where students and the public can learn about regenerative agriculture, watershed and natural resource management, a living Hawaiian culture, and aloha ʻāina values.” said Kahiau Wallace, President, Hoʻāla ‘Āina Kūpono, the property’s new nonprofit owner and steward.

Hakipu‘u Lo‘i will be permanently protected by a Conservation Easement over the property held and monitored annually by the City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiian Islands Land Trust. “This Conservation Easement will ensure that this ʻāina will never be developed and will be used for kalo farming, education, and a community gathering space for present and future generations.” said Laura Kaakua, CEO, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust.

“Protection of this ʻāina is of utmost importance to our ‘ohana, and to the sanctity of Hakipu‘u’s cultural legacy. Our family has been farming these lo‘i for over 10 generations, and this is the first time we gather here knowing that this ʻāina is forever protected and cared for, honoring the history and mana of our home. On behalf of the Fukumitsu ‘ohana, and Hakipu‘u descendants and residents, we want to mahalo everyone who helped us preserve this piko for our community, a place where our children can come home to reconnect to their kupuna and their identity as Hawaiians.” said Kaha‘i, Ulu, Kolea, and Maluhia Fukumitsu, Hakipu‘u lineal descendants.

“Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo will be permanently protected by specific conservation goals for this property relative to kalo farming and the perpetuation of this skill for future generations.  The property will give the public an opportunity to connect to Hawai‘i’s rich history and contribute to O‘ahu’s food security which has become even more vital during the pandemic. Thanks in part to our Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, this property is now stewarded by the community and permanently preserved through a conservation easement,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

“We are thrilled that the Legacy Land Conservation Program contributed to the preservation of Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo and its incredible cultural and natural resources.  The loʻi provide habitat for Hawaiʻi’s native waterbirds and filter water entering Kāneʻohe Bay, and are a living cultural resource beloved by this community,” said Suzanne Case, Chair of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources.

To download photos, B-roll, and a map of Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo, please click here.

Media Contacts:

The Trust for Public Land: Reyna Ramolete Hayashi

Email: reyna.ramolete@tpl.org

Phone: (808) 524-8562

Hoʻāla ‘Āina Kūpono: Kahiau Wallace

Email: kahiau@hoalaainakupono.org

Phone: (808) 313-9905

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust: Laura Kaakua

Email: laura.kaakua@hilt.org

Phone: (808) 791-0732

The City and County of Honolulu: Alexander Zannes

Phone: (808) 489-0341