City Acquisition of Property. In May of 1998, the City and County of Honolulu purchased approximately 500 acres of undeveloped land in the ahupuaa of Waikane on Oahu's windward side for use as a nature park. Some of this land was previosuly used for agricultural pursuits, such a growing banans, cucumbers, and for pasturing livestock. The land was previously owned by Azabu USA Corporation, Inc., who was intending to develop a golf course on the property. Azabu, a Japanese based company, had obtained all the required local land use permits, but then encountered economic troubles trying to obtain the financing to develop their proposed golf course. The $3.5 million paid by the City was well below the land's appraised property value. This purchase prevented possible golf course development, which many people in the area were not eager to see happen.

Excluded from, and entirely surrounded by, the City-acquired property are other parcels owned by Ewaliko Ranch, the Roberts family, and a community church. These properties are accessed by the Waikane Valley Road and other private driveway easements on the City-owned land. Access to the Waiahole ditch and State and privately owned lands is also provided by Waikane Valley Road. A locked steel gate limits access to deeper areas of Waikane Valley. With permission of the City, several previous tenants are temporarily continuing to reside on the Nature Park property. These tenants will relocate before the City begins any improvements to provide public access to the Nature Park.
 

Environmental Characteristics. The median annual rainfall ranges from approximately 80 inches in the mauka portion of the property. The area usually experiences wet winter months and dry summer months, like most of Oahu. The property ranges from about 10 feet in elevation along Kamehameha Highway to 250 feet in elevation in the western portion. The terrain is extremely hilly along the northern boundary, with slopes in excess of 30 percent over most of the area. The portion of the property within the City's Special Management Area (SMA) boundary ranges from 10 to 50 feet in elevation. The southern portion of the nature park has numerous ridges and relatively small plateaus. Waikane Stream meanders through the property towards Kaneohe Bay. 

Grassy low areas, classified as wetlands by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers occupy approximately 26 acres of the property along Kamehameha Highway, Waikane Stream, and the lower reaches of an unnamed stream. Portions of the nature park have experienced flooding. The primary cause of flooding, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the inadequate channel capacities and the backwater caused by bridges and culverts at Kamehameha Highway.
 

Historic Resources. Paul Rosendahl, PhD., Inc, conducted an archaeological reconnaissance survey and limited subsurface testing in 1988 when the area was being contemplated for development of a golf course. Twenty-nine archaeological sites with 60 component features were recorded. Features included terraces, mounds, ditches, boulder concentrations, walls, lithic and coral scatters, alignments, burials, pits, man-made caves, sunken fields, a trail, a midden scatter, a debris scatter, a house site, depressions, and an inclined ramp. This area's functions during historic and pre-historic times probably included agriculture, habitation, tool manufacture, and religious (cemetery, burial, shrine, and heiau.) 

Four sites were assessed as significant for their information content, and tentatively assessed as culturally significant. The archaeologist recommended further data collection at these sites and a tentative recommendation for preservation "as is." The recommendation for preservation is contingent on what might be found in the data collection phase. 

Two sites were assessed as culturally significant and significant for information content. Further data collection and preservation "as is" were recommended for these sites. 

Two sites were assessed as significant for information content, as excellent examples of site types, and as culturally significant. Further data collection and preservation with interpretive development were recommended for these two sites.

The information above concerning Environmental Characteristics and Historic Resources was derived from the Environmental Impact Statement prepared by Group 70 International, Inc., for Azabu USA, Inc. published in February 1989 for their proposed Waikane Golf Course development on the property.