Drawing inspiration from Ka’ala Farm, a cultural learning center in Waiʻanae where ʻāina, ʻike kūpuna and community come together, volunteers wanted the same in Mākaha Valley
Waiʻanae residents William Aila Jr. and his wife, Melva, have been involved with stream and land restoration efforts in Mākaha since the start.
“Our roles have evolved from volunteers to holding different leadership positions on the board of directors,” he said. “In the early years, we advocated for climate change education, watershed education and stream protection. We testified at the Waiʻanae Neighborhood Board, [Honolulu] City Council, and the state Legislature on efforts to raise awareness. We incorporated Native Hawaiian values and cultural concepts.”
Mohala I Ka Wai became a nonprofit in 2011, though, the core group of volunteers spent more than 10 years prior getting it to that point, Aila said, adding, “We sought nonprofit status to fundraise and establish a land instrument with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to partner and manage some of their property in Mākaha Valley.”
BWS, which owns the 11 acres in Mākaha the group stewards, now provides water and funding for the project, along with other foundations and individuals. Additional partners include Ka’ala Farm; state Department of Land and Natural Resources, where Aila previously served as chair and as the department's harbor agent for Waiʻanae Boat Harbor for much of his career; and local schools and nonprofits.
Key individuals, he said, include Cynthia Rezentes, Jo Jordan, Shar Poe, Richard Medeiros, Eric Enos, Jonathan Deenik, Landis Ornellas, and Willy Centiro.
Aila, who retired in 2022 as director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, added: “We have presented several water conferences on the past 20-plus years, focusing on the importance of watershed and stream management with a focus on climate change and its future impacts on the Waiʻanae Coast.”
The last conference, free and open to the public, took place in 2024 thanks to BWS. He expects another one will happen later this year.
Volunteers work roughly 1-2 times a week, not including monthly gatherings for the community.
“With some cultural/historical sites on property, we’re doing this in a pono way. We’re bringing life back to the land,” Aila said. “It seems to be raining more in that area, so I take that as a yes, kūpuna are approving what we do. It’s much cooler now that we’ve planted trees. Increased number of birds. The stream appears to be running more often. I feel as though the land is responding. It has missed having a human presence. It’s enjoying providing food for the community and cultural materials on the Wai’anae Coast.”
Another byproduct of this work is increased food production. Currently bananas, ʻulu, taro, ʻōlena (turmeric), and other crops are planted, grown, harvested and shared directly with community organizations or distributed at Kahumana Organic Farms or Maʻo Organic Farms.
The project has also increased wildfire safety, or what he calls “edible firebreak,” clearing and planting trees alongside roadways to protect homes and life, but to also cultivate crop.
“In the near future, we will be harvesting more ʻulu, avocado, mango, mountain apple, fig, citrus, and other specialty fruit trees,” Aila said. “Watching these newly planted trees double or triple in size in the last year is something we will not forget. Watching a haole koa and grass dominated landscape, ripe for fire during the dry season, being transformed into a food-filled landscape is and continues to be inspiring!"
He said he has personally donated mountain apple trees to this initiative and given away close to 800.
When asked where else they get seeds and native plants from, he noted that Mohala I Ka Wai has its own collection and accepts donations.
The goal for the new year is to continue to mālama the ‘āina, educate the community and make opportunities for connection, he said, estimating that about 3 of 11 acres so far have been maintained.
“We are inspired by the youth in our community that are ready to pick up the shovels and expand our efforts.”
Aila added that this kuleana in Mākaha has taught him: “When you establish a reciprocal relation with ‘āina; you grow in understanding, you grow in having mana, and you realize that you’re part of a cycle."
Learn more about the project here.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
