Archaeologists from the Bishop Museum
found extensive remnants of Hawaiian culturein the valley, including a heiau (religioustemple), koça (fishing shrines), fishponds,
house sites, stone-walled enclosures, çauwai(irrigation channels), agricultural terraces,walls and planting areas. While many ofthese 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, orfish watcher, spied schools of akule in the bayand signaled to valley residents who would
collectively net them. Huilua Fishpond,
the most impressive site in the valley, andpresently under restoration, can be visitedfrom the east side of the bay.

Hunting is allowed within designatedhunting boundaries, on weekends
and holidays ONLY. Permits must
be obtained IN PERSON from thepark office in Honolulu.

Gobies (oçopu), Hawaii‘s only native
freshwater fish, can be found in themiddle and lower valley streams.
Mullet (çamaçama) and Milkfish(awa) are commonly seen in andaround Huilua Fishpond. HuiluaFishpond and other lowland areas
are also home to the Black Crowned
Night Heron (çauku‘u), and theGolden Plover (kolea), as well as two
endangered species, the HawaiianCoot (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 anddoves. Kahana is also an ideal
habitat for feral pigs. Introduced by
the original Polynesian colonizers,
and later interbred with Europeanspecies, these animals are very
destructive to the few surviving
native Hawaiian ecosystems.

There are two hiking trails available to thepublic. Both are relatively easy walking,but trails may be muddy. No permits arerequired, 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 onehour. The trail passes two cultural sites andoffers stunning views of Kahana Bay.
• Nakoa Trail is named for the koa trees
found along this 3.5 mile loop trail through atropical 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 theroad. This trail crosses Kahana Stream twice- use caution. Fruit picking when in season.
There are ten (10) beach campsites in thepark. Camping is by permit only. Camping
permits may be obtained from the State
Parks office in Honolulu (587-0300) or
online at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/camping. Thereis a fee per campsite per night. Pleasecheck the State Parks website for rates andavailability.

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‘iHa‘aheo a kea o naulu& Charles E. KingUlu a‘e ka mana‘o he aloha laKuini 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 andDesire for the flowers of KahanaThe 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, withintermittently mixed forest scrub ofbamboo, mountain apple, guava, ti
and other species. Do not eat any
fruit you are unfamiliar with.

Kahana was a thriving fishing and farming
community prior to Western contact. Those livingin Kahana had an abundance of fresh water andfertile soil on the valley floor to cultivate kalo (taro),
the staple crop. The loçi (ponded fields of kalo) wereirrigatedby çauwai (ditches) that diverted water fromthe streams to the fields. Kahana Bay provided a
wealth of fish and shellfish.
In the 19th Century, following the unificationof the Hawaiian Islands by Kamehameha I, thepopulation rapidly declined as a result of Westerncontact and the introduction of foreign diseases.
Sugar cane cultivation and the use of the valley as aWWII jungle warfare training site, have altered thenatural 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 andkeep your eyes on the trail.
• There are two stream crossings along the Nakoa
Trail that may require wading through water thatis ankle to knee deep. There are slippery rocks inthe stream, so proceed with caution.
• Do not cross the stream if it has been raining andthe water is high and fast moving. Turn aroundand return the way you came.
• The trails can get dark quickly because of thedense vegetation. Start your hike early in the day
and allow enough time to complete your hike bylate 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 freshwater. Do NOT drink the water or enter the stream
with open cuts.

Ahupua‘a ‘O Kahana State Park
52-222 Kamehameha Highway(808) 587-0300
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/HA

AWAITEIState of Hawai‘i
Department of Land & Natural Resources
DIVISION OF STATE PARKS

STThe primary purpose of this park is to nurtureand foster native Hawaiian cultural traditions andthe cultural landscape of rural windward Oçahu.
Established as a “living park”, there are thirty-one
families living in the ahupuaça of Kahana. Thesefamilies assist with interpretive programs that share
the Hawaiian values and lifestyle. If you have agroup interested in a cultural program at the park,
please call (808) 587-0300.

Hikers have gotten lost by leaving the trails inKahana. Stay on the designated trails and follow thesigns and arrows. Heed warnings along the trails.

KSAhupuaça çO Kahana State Park is located on
the windward side of Oçahu, between Käne‘oheand Läçie, and 26 miles from Honolulu. Kahana isa 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 theresource zones needed for subsistence. The ahupuaçaof 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 ofthe valley. Temperatures can range from the mid-60s
to the mid-80s.

PAR(formerly Kahana Valley State Park)