Nearly 1,000 acres of the steep Koʻolau pali above Kāneʻohe are now officially in public hands for conservation, state and nonprofit officials announced this month. The newly protected stretch runs from the Nuʻuanu Pali lookout along the ridgeline toward the H‑3 freeway, wrapping in perennial streams, waterfalls and hundreds of cultural sites. Officials say the acquisition safeguards a crucial slice of Oʻahu's watershed and keeps habitat intact for native species, with funding patched together from local, state and federal partners.
Who Bought The Land And Who Paid For It
The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources partnered with Trust for Public Land to acquire more than 956 acres of Kāneʻohe Pali. According to the nonprofit, federal support included money from the USDA Forest Legacy Program and the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program. The deal was set up as a shared effort to lock in long‑term public ownership of the ridge and its valleys.
State Plans For Cultural Restoration And Managed Access
DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife will manage the property, working alongside local nonprofits and community stewards on restoration and long‑term care, the agency said. In an interview with Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Marigold Zoll, DOFAW’s Oʻahu branch manager, said the department plans to restore loʻi patches, heiau and ancient trails, and to assess vegetation, access points and the presence of protected species. Zoll added, "By engaging with community stewards, we hope to protect them in the best way possible," and noted that planners will coordinate with neighboring landowners on managed access to avoid neighborhood impacts.
Why The Pali Matters For Water And Wildlife
Conservation advocates are highlighting just how critical this stretch of pali is for Oʻahu’s water and wildlife. Trust for Public Land reports the lands contain springs, 11 streams and native forest that feed the watershed supplying roughly 60% of Oʻahu’s drinking water, including about 1.05 million gallons a day for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. The release also identifies critical habitat for 31 native species and hundreds of cultural sites, including the historic Kekele Trail, underscoring the area’s ecological and cultural weight.
What Comes Next
Before anyone starts planning new hikes, DLNR says its next step is to map vegetation types, identify access points and survey for endangered species, then use that information to craft public‑use plans, as per Hawaiʻi Public Radio. The outlet also reports the purchase price came in at nearly $2.6 million. The state has had its eye on protecting pieces of the Pali for years; earlier Board of Land and Natural Resources records show Kāneʻohe Pali and nearby loʻi lands were previously considered in conservation grant rounds, as stated by the DLNR.
