growing up on the west side of oahu, i have known the wai of kapapapuhi to be: uninhabitable, polluted, contaminated. 

throughout the years i have witnessed first-hand the human efforts taken place to heal the land. the landscape of kapapapuhi has changed from a forgotten water body to a newfound conservation.

time and time again, i find myself visiting kapapapuhi. standing on the shoreline one can see pearl harbor across the horizon, and the connected water channels; inseparable.

during my youth i was frequently told the waters of kapapapuhi were too polluted to 1) swim, 2) eat from, and 3) be near. shortly after, i volunteered to clear out the mangroves from the site, a pattern that has continued with no sign of letting up.

pu'uloa - mo'olelo

before being branded "pearl harbor", pu'uloa was an expansive sect of waterways. waikele and waipi'o streams connect to-and-from pu'uloa, to kapapapuhi, allowing for a flourishing environment. post Western contact, kapapapuhi went from a lush wetland to a contaminated body filled with invasive species; efforts among local community members (keiki, veterans, our kupuna, and more) have allowed for a modern resurrection in kapapapuhi. native hawaiian mo'olelo describes our gods kāne and kanaloa to have hand-crafted the fishponds found about the pu'uloa region, purely for the benefit of kanaka residing in the area. although the marine life in kapapapuhi point park are no longer safe to eat, conscious effort takes place day by day to heal the 'aina; to hopefully reach a point in our future generations where our waters are pure, clean, and connected to us once again.

between the natives residing locally, industrialization of sugarcane all along the ewa moku, to the current contemporary struggles we still face, kapapapuhi has remained consistent in suriving. it is now our job to ensure it thrives.

to best experience kapapapuhi point park, i would suggest the following steps:

1. disengage all electronics. 

2. stand and/or sit near the water. 

3. feel the nature. salty wind on your face, the smell of water. watch 'alae 'ula congregate on the shorelines. 

4. admire the 'aina for what it is; work towards a better future for incoming generations.

5. love the world around you.

works cited

Moore, Bryce. KHON2, "Ewa Beach cleanup aims to restore Hawaii's Culture." Nexstar Media Inc. 26 February 2022. https://www.khon2.com/local-news/ewa-beach-cleanup-aims-to-restore-hawaiis-culture-beauty-to-puuloa/

Nohopapa Hawaii & Kamehameha Schools, "Cultural-Historical Overview of Ewa." Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate. https://www.ksbe.edu/assets/site/special_section/regions/ewa/Halau_o_Puuloa_Cultural-Historical-Summary.pdf

Mālama Pu'uloa, "The Past." Hui o Ho'ohonua. https://www.malamapuuloa.org/the-past.html

Jensen Carr, Sarah. Places Journal. "Water is Wealth." Places Journal. October 2021. https://placesjournal.org/article/watershed-urbanism-and-indigenous-ecological-design-in-honolulu/

Commission on Water Resource Management. "Ground Water Hydraulic Unit Map, Island of Oahu." State of Hawaii. 2018. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/cwrm/info/maps/