Description: Cultural Background
Kahana was a thriving fishing and farming community prior to Western contact. Those living in Kahana had an abundance of fresh water and fertile soil on the valley floor to cultivate kalo (taro), the staple crop. The loçi (ponded fields of kalo) were irrigated by 'auwai (ditches) that diverted water from the streams to the fields. Kahana Bay provided a wealth of fish and shellfish.

In the 19th Century, following the unification of the Hawaiian Islands by Kamehameha I, the population rapidly declined as a result of Western contact and the introduction of foreign diseases. Sugar cane cultivation and the use of the valley as a WWII jungle warfare training site, have altered the natural and cultural environment of Kahana.

The Living Park
The primary purpose of this park is to nurture and foster native Hawaiian cultural traditions and the cultural landscape of rural windward O'ahu. Established as a "living park", there are thirty-one families living in the ahupu'ça of Kahana. These families assist with interpretive programs that share the Hawaiian values and lifestyle. If you have a group interested in a cultural program at the park, please call 237-7767.

Archaeology
There are extensive remnants of Hawaiian culture in the valley, including a heiau (religious temple), ko'a (fishing shrines), fishponds, house sites, stone-walled enclosures, 'auwai (irrigation channels), agricultural terraces, walls and planting areas. While many of these sites are inaccessible to the public, Kapa'ele'ele Ko'a and Keaniani Kilo (lookout) are accessible via a trail on the west side of the valley mouth. From the kilo, the kilo i'a, or fish watcher, spied schools of akule in the bay and signaled to valley residents who would collectively net them. Huilua Fishpond, the most impressive site in the valley, and presently under restoration, can be visited from the east side of the bay.

Camping: There are ten (10) beach campsites in the park. Camping is by permit only. Camping permits may be obtained online by clicking the "Online Reservations" button at left side of this page. Camping fees start at $12 per campsite per night.

Services: Visitor center, Restrooms, picnic tables, camping, hiking, outdoor showers (beach area), trash cans, drinking water, payphone.

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