Wai`ele is a 156 acre coastal forest in Halepua`a ahupua`a containing extensive cultural landscape, village remnants, and sections of an ancient alanui i kahakai (major mauka/makai thoroughfare). After being nominated twice over the course of 15 years, the property was finally acquired in 2021 by Hawai`i Countyʻs Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation fund, protecting the site perpetually. Wai`ele is now stewarded by Malama O Puna 501c(3) (MOP), the Koa`e Community Association (KCA), and Hawai`i Environmental Restoration 501c(3) (HER).
Wai`ele Coast
Marine Debris Cleanup
Members of the Koa`e Community Association have been caring for this section of coast since the 1990s, gradually developing the tradition of a community coastal cleanup event every New Yearʻs Day. This work has been spearheaded by long-time stewards Clive Cheetham, Ann Kobsa, and Diga Kern.
2019 Beach Cleanup Flyer
PONC stewardship funding has since 2021 enabled these cleanups to grow in scope, to include sections of the Beach Road, Kalaemanu, and the coast between Kahuwai and Wai`ele. From 2023-24, 53 volunteers contributed 179 people /hours to collect and deliver 2250 lbs of marine debris to the transfer station.
2024 Wai`ele Cleanup
Wai`ele Cleanup 2023
If you are interested in participating in future cleanup events, please email 23.diga@gmail.com with a subject line of “Wai`ele Cleanup”
Maintenance
In November, 2024, maintenance work at Wai`ele transitioned from MOP to HER. Forest technician contractor Diga Kern has assured continuity of services, including the upkeep of a perimeter barrier to keep Little Fire Ants from infesting the property; the establishment and periodic clearing of footpaths for interior access of the land; invasive species removal; and native tree plantings.
Waiele Trails
Wai`ele LFA
Management Planning
Community organizers, advised by lineal descendant Keone Kalawe, are working towards establishing an advisory council to guide future Wai`ele activities and to develop a long-term management plan. To this end, from 2018 to 2023 Mālama O Puna commissioned the following studies (Veteran HER forest technician Jon Rathbun co-authored the very informative botanical study).
HISTORIC, CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES of THE WAI‘ELE PARCEL, LOCATED IN HALEPUA‘A, PUNA DISTRICT by Theresa Donham
Botanical Survey and Vegetation Analysis, Waiʻele, Hawaiʻi by Will Stein and Jon Rathbun
Natural Resource Assessment by Leila Kealoha
Archaeological Survey and Preservation Plan by Theresa Donham
In 2025, the County commissioned an Archaeology Inventory Study from ASM Affiliates. Please check back to this page to view the study, once it is published.
For 2025 HER was also awarded a PONC stewardship grant to build a digital resource database for use by future management planners, field technicians, and educational curriculum designers. Geographer and drone pilot Kanoa Lindiwe from the UH Spatial Data Analysis and Visualisation Lab was selected as GIS technician for this work. Scope of work includes capturing Lidar data of Wai`ele, in order to better understand the historic and prehistoric anthropogenic morphology of the site.
Birdʻs Nest Fern and Ulu
Intersections
Wai`ele borders the Government Beach Road, a narrow historic corridor lined with 354 exceptional mango trees, protected by the County of Hawai`i since 2002. Across the road is the Halepua’a Section of the Nanawale Forest Reserve, in which HER sponsors the native forest restoration work of Diga Kern and Ann Kobsa. Neighboring Wai`ele to the north is Kahuwai, an important village site and canoe landing governed by Kamehameha Schools/ Bishop Estates and managed by Keone Kalawe.
The Beach Road connects the communities of Papaya Farms Rd and Wa’awa’a to additional important sites being nominated for PONC protection, including Waiakahi’ula, Honolulu, and Kumukahi. All together, these properties represent some of the most significant and sacred Hawaiian cultural sites in coastal Puna, including rare extant lowland wet forests and extensive feral cultural landscapes.
Going into the future, HER stands ready to partner with other local organizations to cultivate further associations and protections among these precious locations, for the benefit of Hawai’iʻs people now and for generations to come.
