April 23, 2026

Protecting The Past By Managing The Future Of Ka‘ena Point A new federal designation could bring more money for a place brimming with cultural and environmental resources. But some worry it could bring more people too.

0
69398
Thomas Shirai traces his family’s ties to Ka‘ena all the way back to the Great Mahele of 1848. Before the historic change in Hawaii’s land tenure system, Shirai’s grandfather, Kaaemoku Kakulu, was the last konohiki, or caretaker, of Kawaihapai, a land division in Waialua.

Raised in a fishing family, he remembers the abundance of Ka‘ena’s waters because of the many fishing shrines, or ko‘a, along the coastline. The plethora of fish, urchins, limu and opihi made the grounds a prized backyard resource.

FULL STORY, PHOTOS, & PODCAST

What do you feel about this?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *