Kawainui

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Kawainui, Hawai‘i’s largest wetland, is threatened by overgrowth of invasive plants such as bullrush, cattail, water hyacinth and water lettuce. These plants crowd out areas of open water, reducing habitat for endangered wetland birds such as ‘alae ‘ula (Hawaiian Gallinule), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian Coot) and ae‘o (Hawaiian Stilt).

This wetland restoration project funded by the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) was awarded to the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).

Starting in February 2021, the NAWCA grant, and match funds, will be used to pay for the removal of non-native species along the Kawainui Marsh State Wildlife Sanctuary levee. The role of Hui o Ko'olaupoko will be to bring together community volunteers to assist with hand-pulling of invasive weeds and replanting areas with native wetland plants. The result will be a mosaic of mudflats, open water, restored native bird habitat, and native wetland plants on almost 20 wetland acres.
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“The partnership with HOK is exciting for us [DOFAW], because it will greatly expand our capacity for restoration. With this project, we are combining DOFAW’s use of amphibious machinery to clear areas of invasive vegetation, with HOK’s ability to mobilize groups of community members and remove invasive species that are best controlled by hand. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish!” says Lindsey Nietmann, DOFAW wildlife biologist. The project will continue for two years with the NAWCA grant, and the goal is to secure more funding to continue in perpetuity.

Beginning in  March 2021 we be in the field every other Friday and look forward to welcoming volunteers soon!
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Check the current schedule on our calendar

Hui o Ko’olaupoko is honored to enter into this partnership with DOFAW and bring the wetland and bird habitat restoration techniques we have learned at He’eia State Park back to our organization's home town. This will be a very visible and accessible restoration site for all who utilize the levee and we look forward to engaging the community directly with the project, through hands-on, small group experiences." -Kristen Kane HOK Project Director

You can also contact us to schedule a personalized virtual field trip or private group workday.

Access to Kawainui levee is located within Kawainui Neighborhood Park at 750 Kaha Street in Kailua.

A Brief History of Kawainui
From HO'ONA'AUAO NO KAWAI NUl 

As indicated in Place Names of Hawaii, (Pukui, Elbert, and Mookini, 1976), the name Kawai Nui is a two-worded expression which - when broken down into its constituent parts, "Ka-wai-nui", -- can be literally translated to mean "the great water". It is also instructive to note that "wai" refers to "freshwater" while "kai" refers to "saltwater". Kawai Nui is -- today - the largest freshwater marsh in the State of Hawaii, located on the windward side of the Island of O'ahu
 
Core samples from underneath Kawai Nui Marsh reveal marine coral and calcium containing deposits under clays and organic sediment. These findings indicate that from approximately six thousand to about four thousand years before the present, (See Figure 1.8) Kawai Nui Marsh was an open saltwater marine bay, similar to the present day Kaneohe Bay. Coral sands washed up on the silty beaches along the inland portion of the bay, while the peripheral slopes supported a natural tropical forest. This marine embayment, having by then become a lagoon, with carpeted mud bottom, was existing here when the earliest Polynesian pioneers discovered Hawaii, about 1500 years before present. (See Figure 1.9) In fact, archaeological and geological evidence from Kawai Nui and nearby areas indicate that O'ahu was one of the earliest areas occupied by these Polynesian voyagers, as early as the fourth century A.D. At that time, the accretion barrier, that would eventually close off the lagoon, was already formed from the north to south ends of the bay on the reef tract. The sand barrier at the makai end (i.e. the ocean side) of the lagoon could have supported coconuts and hala. And the wet plains in the valley would have provided natural garden plots to plant taro shoots for lo’i farming. Thus, this area was rich in potential resources. It is no wonder that it was among those earliest occupied in Hawai'i.
 
Throughout this earliest settlement period, the streams flowing off the Ko'olau mountains and through the taro gardens in the valley deposited increasing amounts of sediment and soil on the shores of the lagoon. A peat layer capable of supporting salt-tolerant vegetation began to develop, creating fringing marshes around the lagoon, an inviting environment for nesting waterbirds and migrating water fowl - a source of feathers and food. The streams continued to lay their sediments and soils while the ocean continued building the beach barrier, aided - perhaps - by increasingly sophisticated Hawaiian stream flow management. These natural forces continued to supply the nutrients necessary for support of the flourishing fringing marshes while probably expanded in area to encompass more and more of the open water lagoon. Meanwhile, the accretion barrier continued to expand from the north to the south end of the bay, as the fringing marshes grew
 
By this time, approximately 1200 years ago, the Hawaiians converted approximately two hundred fifty acres along the mauka (inland) edge of the marsh-fringed lagoon into a rich and productive taro-growing area by controlling the streams and damming the waters into a network of irrigation ditches or "auwai" approximately 500 years ago. A four hundred fifty acre inland freshwater fishpond or "loko wai" was also established, in which awa and mullet were raised. This inland freshwater aquaculture system was separated by an expanding barrier beach from the sea, and drained by a mile-long canal linking it with the drainage system of the nearby Ka'elepulu fishpond and its taro complex. Water from the mountain streams continued to feed the taro fields. The fishponds were fed by nutrient-rich water from the taro, which nurtured algae on which the fish fed. Hawaiians harvested the fish and taro, while maintaining the fishponds and taro fields. 

The continued productivity of the district as believed to be assured by the presence of a mo'o or guardian spirit of Kawai Nui, which manifested herself either in reptilian or beautiful woman-like forms, and whose presence in the pond was said to have been marked by the yellow hue imparted to the grasses and bullrushes there. Many freshwater fishponds were thought to have such a mo'o or guardian spirit. The mo'o at Kawai Nui was called Hau-wahine. She and her companion mo'o of Ka'elepulu looked after the welfare of the people by insuring a plentiful supply and variety of food to be harvested from the pond. If the chief's land agent oppressed the people of the area or became indifferent to their needs, the mo'o would take away the fish from the pond. 

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"Thank you for teaching us about the native plants and invasive ones. I liked when we got to get dirty and dig a hole for the Uala or sweet potato."

    -Isaiah,
Kainalu Elementary

"Thank you for teaching me about Kaha Garden and all the plants and the weeds that take over. I also took a Kukui nut to try and plant at home because I think it will interest my family."

    -Crystal,
 Kainalu Elementary 

"Now I know many of the ways Hawaiians used our native plants instead of us going to a store or something to figure it out. Now I will use some of these strategies."

    -Justice,
Kainalu Elementary 

Kaha Garden Native Plant ID Cards
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Kaha Garden Description
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