Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park
Kahana was a thriving fishing and farming community prior to Western contact. Those living in Kahana had an abundance of fresh water and fertile soil on the valley floor to cultivate kalo (taro), the staple crop. The loçi (ponded fields of kalo) were irrigated by 'auwai (ditches) that diverted water from the streams to the fields. Kahana Bay provided a wealth of fish and shellfish.
In the 19th Century, following the unification of the Hawaiian Islands by Kamehameha I, the population rapidly declined as a result of Western contact and the introduction of foreign diseases. Sugar cane cultivation and the use of the valley as a WWII jungle warfare training site, have altered the natural and cultural environment of Kahana.
The Living Park
The primary purpose of this park is to nurture and foster native Hawaiian cultural traditions and the cultural landscape of rural windward O'ahu. Established as a "living park", there are thirty-one families living in the ahupu'ça of Kahana. These families assist with interpretive programs that share the Hawaiian values and lifestyle.
There are two hiking trails available to the public. Both are relatively easy walking, but trails may be muddy. No permits are required, and detailed trail maps are available at the Orientation Center
