Mission

The Kalaeloa Heritage and Legacy Foundation operates the Kalaeloa Heritage Park to provide stewardship and preservation of Native Hawaiian cultural sites and the cultural landscape of Kalaeloa, to educate the community on cultural traditions and practices, advocate cultural awareness, implement and maintain an authentic Hawaiian presence in the Kalaeloa area.

What We Do

Educational Programs

Guided Site Tour - An hour long, guided walking tour of the interpretive site is provided to visitors on a daily basis during Park hours. Groups may range in size from 5 to 25. Tours start at the kauhale where Participants are given an overview of the geological history of the area, ancient legends and stories that tie into the region and other historical events that occurred in and around the Park (i.e., Navy occupation, aircraft crash site, etc.).

Park staff guide the Participants through the Park and offer personal interpretations of the various physical structures and remnants based on their own knowledge and familiarity with the original cultural and archeological review developed by Dave Tuggle and Rubellite Johnson (which was included in the final Environmental Assessment for the Park).

Reforestation and Preservation of Native Plants - The KHLF partners with the University of Hawai`i West O`ahu (UHWO) Botany program, headed by Dr. Bruce Koebele, where students assist in the replanting or reforestation of native plants at the Park as part of their ServiceLearning program. Plants such as `ahinahina o `Ewa, `aweoweo, naio,`ulu, `a`ali`i, maiapilo, and wiliwili - which are raised from seeds offsite -are brought to the Park to be replanted by students.

Community Involvement

Community Work Days and Service Work/Work-Study - The KHLF holds monthly community work days that provide local community groups aswell as interested individuals the opportunity to help malama the Park.Participants are guided through various tasks (i.e., hand weeding, chipping, weed whacking, etc.) based on their level of ability. When the work of the day is completed participants are provided with a lunch and free tour of the Park.

The KHLF partners with various educational, vocational, and service oriented groups to provide service work/work-study opportunities. Participants are guided through various tasks (i.e., hand weeding, chipping, weed whacking, etc.) based on their level of ability. Work hours are monitored and proof of completion is provided to participants.

Feather-work Workshops - Hands-on feather-work workshops are presented by Park staff at the Park. Participants learn about the traditional methods for collecting feathers as well as resource conservation practices employed by ancient Hawaiian. Modern methods for creating feather-work pieces are demonstrated. For a nominal fee workshop Participants create one of several types of kahili (i.e., `ahu ula, kahili pa`alima, etc.).

Place Names of Kapolei Workshops - Through the use of a large physical map, Park staff will provide a class on the ancient place names of Kapolei and other areas throughout the `Ewa Moku. Participants gain an appreciation for the places within Kapolei by understanding the meaning and kaona related to the ancient or historical names.