Mālama ʻĀina Day at Kalaeokaunaʻoa
DLM Mālama ʻĀina Day at Kalaeokaunaʻoa
Honoring ʻĀina Through Action
On Friday, April 4, 2025, the Department of Land Management (DLM) hosted its first-ever Mālama ʻĀina Day at Kalaeokaunaʻoa — also known as Kahuku Point, the northernmost point of Oʻahu. The event was led in partnership with North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) and the City and County of Honolulu’s Clean Water and Natural Lands (CWNL) Program, which is administered by DLM and supports land conservation efforts across the island.
The CWNL Program facilitates the acquisition of real estate or conservation interests in land to protect watershed areas, preserve forests, beaches, and coastal ecosystems, safeguard agricultural lands, and ensure public access to open spaces. It also supports the conservation of culturally significant sites and native habitats — directly aligning with the ongoing stewardship efforts at Kalaeokaunaʻoa.
Opening the day with a traditional oli beneath soft showers at Kalaeokaunaʻoa — a quiet moment of unity before the work began.
Staff from DLM were joined by colleagues from the Office of Housing, Office of Economic Revitalization, Department of the Corporation Counsel, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, Department of Customer Services, and the Office of Councilmember Matt Weyer for a day of learning, restoration, and reflection — all grounded in a shared commitment to mālama ʻāina.
Throughout the rainy day, NSCLT staff provided cultural and ecological context, helping participants understand the deeper purpose behind each action. The hands-on experience fostered not only environmental awareness but a strong sense of kuleana to care for the land.
A Coastal Journey with Purpose
Kalaeokaunaʻoa is one of the last remaining intact coastal dune ecosystems on Oʻahu and is home to a variety of native and endangered species, including ʻohai (Oʻahu silversword), nalo meli maoli (yellow-faced bees), ʻīlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seals), mōlī (Laysan albatross), honu (green sea turtles), and honuʻea (hawksbill sea turtles). To reach the restoration site, participants took a guided one-mile coastal hike, enjoying sweeping ocean views and the natural beauty of the landscape. This is the same route traveled by NSCLT’s community volunteers during their monthly workdays, offering a moment of connection to place before engaging in restoration work.
On site, volunteers helped outplant native Hawaiian coastal species — including mauʻu ʻakiʻaki (native grass), paʻu o Hiʻiaka, and ʻāweoweo papa — which play a critical role in dune stabilization and wildlife habitat restoration. These plants are essential for protecting the shoreline and building a more resilient ecosystem. In areas where mōlī (Laysan albatross) have returned to nest, participants also removed invasive species such as koa haole, bidens, and Chinese violet (foxglove). These non-native plants compete with native vegetation and degrade seabird habitat. Clearing these species improves nesting areas and strengthens the overall health of the coastal strand.
A Legacy of Community Partnership
Community-based restoration at Kalaeokaunaʻoa began in 2015, led by NSCLT in partnership with Turtle Bay Resort and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Coastal Program. Monthly volunteer workdays have supported invasive species removal, native outplanting, and dune restoration, engaging residents, students, and visitors in the care of this rare ecosystem.
DLM’s Mālama ʻĀina Day builds on this momentum and reflects CWNL’s mission to protect lands that provide public benefits — including clean water, food security, native ecosystems, and cultural access. It demonstrates what’s possible when government agencies and community partners work together.
To date, more than five acres of coastal dune habitat at Kalaeokaunaʻoa have been restored. Volunteers have removed over 84,000 pounds of invasive vegetation and 9,400 pounds of marine debris, while outplanting more than 30,000 native plants. Rare species identified through the Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEPP) — including ʻohai and dwarf naupaka — have also been introduced. These efforts have supported a resurgence in native wildlife. In the most recent season, honu (green sea turtles) nested 20 times, and 34 mōlī nests were recorded — the first in decades. A 0.5-square-mile predator control grid now protects these nesting areas, enhancing long-term ecological resilience.
Honoring the Land Through Protection
Kalaeokaunaʻoa is part of a broader landscape that reflects decades of community advocacy, negotiated land protections, and long-term vision for the North Shore. In 1986, 236 acres of Turtle Bay lands were reclassified from the State Agricultural District to the Urban District. As part of that rezoning process, the developer executed a Unilateral Agreement (UA) with the City — a legally binding document that secured public benefits in exchange for the entitlement. Among the negotiated conditions, the UA limited development, preventing 3,500 new units from being built, and required that four shoreline parks be created to ensure public access and community benefit.
One of those parks, known as Park 2, includes the coastal area fronting Kalaeokaunaʻoa. Under the terms of the agreement, this 37-acre parcel will be dedicated to the City as a public park once the first building permit is issued for a new hotel on the Turtle Bay property. The dedication of this land represents a major step forward in expanding public access to coastal resources, and honoring the commitments made to the community nearly four decades ago.
As we look to the future, the stewardship efforts taking place at Kalaeokaunaʻoa today carry long-term significance. Once the land is transferred to the City, continued restoration and maintenance will be critical to preserving its ecological and cultural value. CWNL and DLM are committed to supporting a smooth transition that honors the legacy of those who fought to protect this place and ensures its health and accessibility for future generations..
One of those parks, known as Park 2, includes the coastal area fronting Kalaeokaunaʻoa. Under the terms of the agreement, this 37-acre parcel will be dedicated to the City as a public park once the first building permit is issued for a new hotel on the Turtle Bay property. The dedication of this land represents a major step forward in expanding public access to coastal resources, and honoring the commitments made to the community nearly four decades ago.
As we look to the future, the stewardship efforts taking place at Kalaeokaunaʻoa today carry long-term significance. Once the land is transferred to the City, continued restoration and maintenance will be critical to preserving its ecological and cultural value. CWNL and DLM are committed to supporting a smooth transition that honors the legacy of those who fought to protect this place and ensures its health and accessibility for future generations..
Thanks to a major community-driven conservation effort in 2015, an additional 568 acres were permanently preserved through a combination of fee simple acquisitions and conservation easements. This included the State’s acquisition of 53 acres at Kawela Bay, along with a 7.5-acre shoreline parcel just makai of that, which was protected through a CWNL-supported fee simple acquisition by the City and is now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). These makai lands are complemented by inland conservation efforts. The Turtle Bay Mauka Lands — 468.42 acres of agricultural land — were preserved through a conservation easement established by the Trust for Public Land, North Shore Community Land Trust, the State’s Legacy Land Conservation Program, and CWNL. Together, these lands support local agriculture, food security, and long-term public benefit.
Together, these protections represent a rare and remarkable achievement: a stretch of coastline and farmland preserved through coordinated efforts between community members, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. This legacy is about more than land — it’s about honoring past commitments, stewarding present responsibilities, and securing a future where both people and place can thrive.
A Lasting Commitment
DLM’s Mālama ʻĀina Day is a reflection of CWNL’s mission to protect Oʻahu’s most vital natural and cultural landscapes for public benefit — from watershed and coastal protection to agriculture, outdoor access, and historic preservation. The program’s support of places like Kalaeokaunaʻoa embodies this mission in action.
By actively participating in this effort, DLM and CWNL staff deepened their connection to the ʻāina and reaffirmed their kuleana to care for the communities and places they serve. Together with dedicated partners and volunteers, DLM and CWNL remain committed to protecting and enhancing these vital landscapes — not just for today, but for generations to come.
