Papa‘ula, Wailuku, Pūʻali Komohana

Size: 20 acres
Year Protected­: 2005
Land Protection Strategy: HILT Conservation Easement
Conservation Values: Public shoreline access, open space, native species on sand dunes
Land Features: Marine shoreline, small wetland, sand dunes

ABOUT Papa‘ula

Instead of becoming another stretch of high-priced homes along Maui’s North shore, these 20 acres of beachfront are forever preserved and open for public beach access. The land is owned and managed by E Paepae Ka Puko‘a Community Association, and HILT holds a conservation easement over the land that dedicates the land to open space and provides permanent public access to the shoreline. The primary use of the land is for public beach access as this is a favorite spot for windsurfing and families enjoying the coast. The strip of sand dunes along the makai portion of the property is covered in native plants such as pohuehue, with its beautiful purple flowers, ‘ākulikuli (Sesuvium portulacastrum) and ‘aki‘aki grass (Sporobolus virginicus).  Also located on the Eastern portion of the property is a small wetland where the endangered Hawaiian ae‘o (stilt) occasionally frequents.  Aside from the sand dunes and small wetland, the property is dominated by non-native grasses and trees.