Kākahaia Loko Puʻuone
DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY VISION FOR RESTORATION
Community planning to restore a coastal wetland and traditional fishpond landscape in Kawela.
Kākahaia Loko Puʻuone is a coastal wetland and traditional inland fishpond located in Kawela on Molokaʻi’s south shore. Once part of a larger coastal agroecosystem that supported both wetland agriculture and nearshore fisheries, the area remains an important cultural and ecological landscape.
Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center, in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Services, the Molokaʻi Land Trust, and the Molokaʻi Wetland Partnership, is working with the Molokaʻi community to develop a long term restoration plan for this wahi kūpuna.
We honor the kamaʻāina of Kawela and mahalo our partners for allowing us the privledge to care for and learn from this special place! Ola Kawela!
A Cultural Wetland Landscape
Kākahaia is a loko puʻuone, a traditional fishpond type separated from the open ocean by a natural sand berm. These systems created highly productive coastal environments where freshwater and marine ecosystems meet.
Historically, the wetland functioned as an integrated coastal food system, supporting both wetland agriculture and fish cultivation.
Today the site sits within the broader landscape of the Kākahaia National Wildlife Refuge, which provides important habitat for native Hawaiian waterbirds.
Community Guided Restoration Planning
The Kākahaia Loko Puʻuone Community Restoration Project is a collaborative effort to guide the long term restoration of approximately 40 acres of coastal wetland and agricultural landscape.
Planning efforts place community knowledge and Indigenous stewardship practices at the center of the process.
Work to Date Includes:
Community Visioning
Community visioning to understand community priorities for the site led by Ka Ipu Makani
Conceptual Draft
Development of a draft conceptual restoration plan integrating both scientific studies and community input
Hydrology Studies
Hydrology studies conducted by Molokaʻi Land Trust to better understand water flows within the wetland system
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This work provides the foundation for future restoration and stewardship of the site.
Ongoing Research and Planning
Additional studies are currently underway to support the development of a comprehensive restoration plan.
Current work includes:
• Archaeological studies
• Continued engagement with the Kawela community
• Refinement of restoration concepts for the wetland
• Working with a community steering committee
These efforts will help ensure that restoration planning reflects both the ecological conditions of the site and the cultural knowledge of the community.
A Long Term Vision for Restoration
The long term goal of this project is to restore Kākahaia Loko Puʻuone as a functioning coastal wetland ecosystem that supports:
• native waterbird habitat
• wetland agriculture
• cultural stewardship of the landscape
• community engagement in mālama ʻāina
By grounding the planning process in community knowledge and collaboration, this effort seeks to restore both the ecological health and cultural significance of this coastal landscape.