Wailupe Nature Preserve

On September 29, 2019, the DLM closed on the purchase of 9.5 acres of land in Aina Haina, Oahu, Hawaii to expand the Wailupe Nature Preserve. The purchase price for the property was $4.1 million. $4,050,000 of the funding to purchase the property was provided by the city’s Clean Water and Natural Lands program. The program receives 0.5% of real property taxes annually to provide for the preservation of lands that are culturally significant and/or promote conservation of our natural resources. In addition, the ‘Āina Haina community donated $50,000 in private funds through The Trust for Public Land. The purchase was strongly supported by the Aina Haina Community Association, the Wailupe Ohana Council and the Trust for Public Land.

In addition to protecting important cultural landmarks and maintaining access to the preserve, this property also protects critical habitat for the O‘ahu ‘Elepaio forest bird and helps restore native forest habitat. It also provides areas for the gathering of traditional plants, worship, bird-watching, and hunting. Wailupe is in the Waikīkī ahupua‘a in the Kona moku of O‘ahu, and may be translated as “the water of Lupe,” a meaning derived from an ancient mo‘olelo (story) about the travels of the gods Kāne and Kanaloa along the Wai‘alae coast to Wailupe. It was here that Kāne struck the coral shelf and gathered fresh water to mix with ‘awa brought from a sacred grove in nearby Kuli‘ou‘ou, and two mo‘o (lizards) called Lupe guarded the grove from the overlooking Ko‘olau ridge. Wailupe may also be translated as “kite water” as it may have been a place to fly kites in ancient Hawai‘i. This newly protected property allows people to connect with Wailupe Valley’s rich history and resources like never before.