Legacy Land Commission Awards Funding for 17 Acres in Honolua for Community-Based Stewardship

Save Honolua Coalition, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, has been awarded funding through the Hawaiʻi Legacy Lands Conservation Program to acquire 17 acres of privately owned land in Honolua for long-term, community-based management.

The culturally significant ʻāina, currently owned by Maui Land & Pineapple Company, was not included in the 2014 State Park acquisition that protected Lipoa Point and part of the Honolua Valley floor. This acquisition represents an important step toward comprehensive, community-based, culturally grounded stewardship Honolua.

Save Honolua Coalition extends deep gratitude to Alyse Parker and the Trust for Public Land for their leadership and expertise throughout the process, and to Maui Land & Pineapple Company for being willing landowners.

Mahalo nui loa to the community members who supported this effort through petitions and testimony, including Kaipo Kekona (ʻAha Moku), Leiʻohu Ryder, Glenn Kamaka, Tamara Paltin, and Hannah Bernard. Mahalo to the following for their letters of support: Senator McKelvey, Representative Cochran, Mayor Bissen, Councilmember Paltin, Councilmember Rawlins-Fernandez, as well as Chipper Wichman (Haʻena State Park), Hawaiʻi Association for Marine Education and Research, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of State Parks, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, Kahakukahi, KUA – Kauaʻi Ulu ʻAuamo, Lahaina Strong, Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, Sierra Club Maui, Surfrider Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.

This funding enables implementation of the Puʻuhonua o Honolua Cultural Sanctuary Plan and advances a framework for co-management of Honolua State Park. Save Honolua Coalition remains committed to transparency, ongoing public engagement, and culturally led stewardship.