Kamahao Canoe Club is in a race off the water, scrambling to hang on to the strip of shoreline at Hammer Point that it has used for nearly 20 years after property managers moved to reclaim the beach, club leaders say. The group, which runs keiki paddling programs and multigenerational practices, says the change threatens one of the few calm, easy-entry spots in Ewa Beach for both children and kupuna. Members say they were given an initial notice earlier this year and now face a timeline the club says stretches through regatta season in November.
Club Rallies Support With Petition And Timeline
According to the club's online petition posted on Google Forms, Kamahao was founded in 2006 and received a formal letter ordering it to vacate in May after an earlier separation letter in February 2025. The petition says Kapilina Beach Homes later granted an extension to Nov. 30, 2026. It recounts how the club assisted with storm cleanup in 2023 and notes that leaders have already met with property management and filed paperwork to prove a nonprofit exemption. The form asks supporters to sign and to share the club's history as the group explores relocation or a formal lease agreement.
What Club Leaders Say
Club president Mana Santiago told Hawaii News Now that Hammer Point has served as "a gathering place for Hawaiian canoe traditions for nearly 20 years" and that its calm waters are uniquely suited for paddlers of all ages. Santiago said the club explored relocation to Puloa Beach Park but raised safety concerns there, describing them as "really rough waters." The club says it attempted to formalize expectations with a memorandum of understanding before management issued the eviction notice.
Management Response And Political Pushback
At an Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting, state Sen. Kurt Fevella blasted the decision and called the eviction "criminal," according to Hawaii News Now. Kapilina Beach Homes told the outlet it recognizes the club's role in the community and said it extended the club's deadline through the end of regatta season while it continues discussions to find a long-term solution that aligns with Navy lease requirements and community guidelines. Even with the extension, club leaders say uncertainty about long-term access will affect youth programming and multi-generation paddling that has become part of the neighborhood's fabric.
Property Context And Access Tensions
Hammer Point sits inside Kapilina, a privately managed waterfront community developed from former military housing, according to the property's developer Carmel Partners. That mix of private leases, federal requirements and cultural use has produced similar disputes on Oʻahu as communities push to protect keiki programs and traditional practices while property managers point to liability and regulatory constraints.
What’s Next
Kamahao leaders say they will continue collecting signatures and pressing for a formal agreement with Kapilina while working with the city and county on possible relocation options, per the club's petition on Google Forms. The petition and club leaders warn that moving to rougher nearby beaches would raise safety issues for younger and older paddlers, and community members and lawmakers say they plan to keep pressure on management as regatta season winds down.
Legal Note
The dispute is fundamentally about property rights, lease terms and liability rather than criminal charges, and any long-term fix will likely require negotiations involving the property manager, local officials and possibly federal leaseholders. For now, both sides appear to be negotiating a path forward while the club leans on public support and the calendar of local regattas to buy time.
