2645 Dole Street
Kamakakūokalani 211B
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-0546
Fax: (808) 973-0988
Email: kanewai@hawaii.edu
Web: ka-papa-loi-o-kanewai/

Director: Makahiapo Cashman

Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai serves as a Hawaiian cultural and education outreach program, which is organizationally housed in Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at UH Mānoa.

In 1980, several students from UH Mānoa re-discovered the abandoned ‘auwai at Kānewai, located in the ahupua‘a of Waikīkī. The students restored its fl ow of water, after which they planted kalo and other native plants in the areas surrounding the lo‘i. The group became known as Ho‘okahewai Ho‘oulu ‘Āina based on the philosophy “make the water fl ow, make the land productive.” Along with the guidance of kūpuna such as Uncle Harry Kūnihi Mitchell and ‘Anakala Eddie Kaanana, the traditional practices have been perpetuated for future generations to experience.

As a cultural resource center, Kānewai focuses its work on perpetuating and preserving Native Hawaiian practices such as wetland kalo cultivation, traditional hale construction and preparation of cultural foods and propagation of Native Hawaiian plants. Activities and services provided on a regular basis at Kānewai include first Saturday and educational tours for UH classes, school, and community groups. These events provide community members, young and old, to engage in mālama ‘āina and learn about indigenous Hawaiian knowledge of natural resource management and food production.

In the early 2000s, Kānewai formed a partnership with Kamehameha Schools ‘Āina ‘Ulu program to further the mission of mālama ‘āina. Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Punalu‘u was opened in the district of Ko‘olauloa, O‘ahu to further the education of lo‘i and develop the concept of self-subsistence and sound resource management in our island communities.

Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai has a 1st Saturday community workday every first Saturday of the month open to everyone. We also have a 3rd Saturday community workday every third Saturday of every month. Email us kanewai@hawaii.edu to let us know you are coming and get directions. Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai has been doing 1st Saturdays since 1980.