About Us

Nā leo o Papakōlea Firewise is a team of Hawaiian Homesteaders from the Papakōlea, Kewalo, and Kalāwahine communities committed to making our homesteads a safe and thriving place to live by reducing the risk of wildfire destruction. We are committed to activating our community with aloha and an eye toward our future generations.

Reestablished in 2024, Nā Leo o Papakōlea is the community association of the Papakōlea, Kewalo, and Kalāwahine Hawaiian Homesteads. Located on the island of O’ahu, in the moku of Kona, the ahupua‘a of Honolulu, and the ‘ili of Kalāwahine- the communities exist along the stream called Kahawai o Kapo‘opo‘o/ Kanahā and surrounded by the mountains of Pu‘u ‘Ōhia and Pūowaina. 

Nā Leo o Papakōlea’s goal is to provide residents in these three homesteads, consisting of about 2,145 people,  with a venue to discuss issues facing the community and work collaboratively to address them to make the area a safe and thriving place to live. One issue identified early on and in response to the 2023 Lahaina fires and a 2024 New Years fire in the neighborhood, was a strong urgency for fire safety and preparedness.

In response, the Nā Leo o Papakōlea Firewise Team (NLP Firewise) was established. NLP Firewise is composed of residents from each of the three homesteads.

NLP Firewise follows the Firewise USA framework of organizing which “provides simple, effective steps to help communities reduce the risk of destruction from wildfire.” It is supported by Nā Leo o Papakōlea, Kula No nā Po‘e o Papakōlea, Kewalo, and Kalāwahine, and the Hawai‘i Wildfire Organization.