The Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization striving to protect the natural wetland, flood control, wildlife, and cultural values of the marsh.
The Foundation's purpose is to educate the public about the inherent natural, educational, recreational, agricultural, historical and cultural resources within the Kailua watershed (ahupua'a). The Foundation proposes to preserve the integrity of these resources by implementation of the foundation's directional plan, which is to preserve and maintain Kawai Nui's heritage.
1) Increase awarness of activities and appreciation of the Kailua watershed (ahupua'a) as a positive value in the community and the state.
2) Support and encourage research related to the Kailua watershed (ahupua'a).
3) Expand and encourage agricultural use of the lands in the Kailua watershed (ahupua'a).
4) Celebrate and learn about the cultural heritage of the Kailua watershed (ahupua'a) in all it's diversity.
* Public acquisition of Kawai Nui Marsh lands and water rights of Maunawili stream
* Establish Environmental Education Center
* Develop a Docent Program
* Develop a Kawai Nui Speakers Bureau
* Fund Raising Project: Mala ia Kawai Nui, Fun Run, Newsletter
* Historical Sites, Membership Drive
* On-Going Fund Raising: Sale of T-shirts, note cards, books, posters
* Promote Kawai Nui as as Ramsar Site (International wetland of distinction)
In 1983 the Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation was established as a non-profit corporation. The Foundation is the outgrowth of more than fifty community organizations and many concerned citizens who, for a decade, have worked together to protect, enhance, and introduce others to Kawai Nui Marsh's diverse resources. As a result, inappropriate public and private developments have been either modified or prevented. Major elements of the citizen's park plan have been adopted by the State's Resource Management Plan for Kawai Nui Marsh. Originally, it was sponsored by the Lanikai-Kailua Outdoor Circle, but will now be managed by `Ohana Nā Kia`i Pono O Kawai Nui (the proper caretakers of Kawai Nui).
[KO`OLAU NET] | [AHUPUA`A]
NOTE: This webpage was developed by the students at Kalaheo Highschool (Kailua) and posted on their school webserver (no longer posted). It is very much the policy of Koolau.net to utilize and encourage by linking such well executed efforts. However, as an unofficial site of the KNHF, it is necessary that connections to activities of KNHF posted elsewhere be established. An attempt to contact the webmaster at Kalaheo HS to incorporate their page into the Windward Watershed Webring brought no response. Consequently, an updated version of the original page has been reproduced here. We thank the students for their efforts and hope to see more good work from them in the future.