Keawāwa Wetland is the last surviving section of a spring-fed wetland that once formed a thriving 523-acre loko iʻa. Hawaiians used this wetland area for fishing and farming. In the 1950's, the marshland was dredged, permanently transforming the shallow, coastal inlets into the Hawaii Kai marina-like community we have now.
At Keawāwa Wetland, Livable Maunalua Hui is working to restore habitats for the native flora and fauna.
ʻAlae ʻUla
LMH works to protect the ʻalae ʻula and their habitat through ongoing wetland restoration, population monitoring, and predator management. By banding birds so they can be individually identified and tracked, we gain a better understanding of the population and how best to protect it. Several ʻalae ʻula families currently call Keawāwa home.
Explore Keawāwa Wetland
Birds of Keawāwa Wetland
Plants of Keawāwa Wetland
Livable Maunalua Hui and Keawāwa Wetland
Explore our timeine to see how Keawāwa Wetland has evolved.
2004
Livable Maunalua Hui Formed
Originally founded as Livable Hawaii Kai Hui to protect cultural sites, wetlands, and open spaces.
Hāwea Heiau Pahu Ceremony
Gathering held to protect the cultural site; conversations begin to acquire the land.
2009–2010
CWNL Grant Applications
TPL submits applications to CWNL & State Legacy Land on behalf of LMH.
Land Acquisition
LMH acquires the Hāwea Heiau Complex and Keawāwa Wetland.
2011
NRCS Stewardship
Active management of Hāwea Heiau and Keawāwa Wetland begins with NRCS support.
Conservation Easement
Permanent protection secured through a conservation easement.
2015
Volunteer Workdays
Monthly "Second Saturday" community volunteer workdays begin.
2019
Native Dryland Forest Started
Native dryland forest restoration initiated with native plant species.
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2019-2021
Hale Built
Construction of Hale ʻIke Ola o Maunalua, serving as a gathering place for community discussions.
2024
Māla Lapaʻau me Lei
Māla Lapaʻau me Lei garden established, providing native plant materials for cultural practices.
Site Restoration and Enhancement
- Defining and caring for the Hāwea Heiau Complex under the guidance of cultural advisors
- Removing invasive trees, including koa haole and kiawe
- Restoring native dryland forest and coastal species such as ʻaʻaliʻi,wiliwili, maʻo, naupaka, kou, milo, kukui, and pōhinahina
- Protecting existing native vegetation and encouraging natural regeneration from the site's seed bank
- Wetland enhancement for the ‘alae ‘ula and other native waterbirds
- Replacing invasive wetland plants with native species, includingʻaeʻae, kaluhā, kīpukai, puʻu kaʻa, mauʻu ʻakiʻaki, and pōhuehue
- Establishing educational gardens, including a Dryland Forest and Māla Lapaʻau me Lei
- Conducting regular Water Quality tests and Predator Control actions
