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A collage of images shows people and places around the Waiʻanae moku from the coast to the mountains, with the Ka Pili Kai title and issue title (Moku ʻo Waiʻanae) across the middle of the collage

KA PILI KAI Kau 2026

The 22-mile stretch of coastline on the west coast of Oʻahu, beginning at Piliokahe Ridge and ending at Kaʻena Point, marks the boundary defined as the Waiʻanae moku. If you travel too fast on Farrington Highway, you might miss the wealth of moʻolelo (stories), wahi pana (storied places), and hana (work) of a community who are fiercely proud of their traditions and practices. “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope” (in the time before, in the time after). This ʻolelo noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) can be interpreted as looking to the past in order to move forward and is an active practice of many working towards ecosystem restoration and climate resiliency. This issue of Ka Pili Kai hopes to highlight a few examples, of a much larger movement, that are embedding the wisdom and traditional practices of their ancestors to move forward in an ever-changing environment to protect and preserve the ʻāina momona (rich lands) that exists in Waiʻanae.

Terra Faraon, Pili Nā Moku, Waiʻanae Moku Resilience Coordinator

Kaupalena ʻia nā 22 mile o ko ka moku ʻo Waiʻanae kapa kai e ke awāwa ʻo Piliokahe ma ka hema, a me ka lae ʻo Kaʻena ma ka ʻākau. Inā kalaiwa wiki loa ʻoe ma ke alanui ʻo Farrington, e hala ana paha nā moʻolelo, nā wahi pana, a me ka nui o nā hana maikaʻi a kekahi kaiāulu i haʻaheo i ko lākou mau welo a me ko lākou mau ʻoihana kuʻuna. “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope.” Ma o kēia ʻōlelo noʻeau, hiki iā kākou ke ʻike leʻa i ke koʻikoʻi o ka nānā ʻana i ka wā i hala no ka ʻike e pono ai ka holomua ʻana i ka wā e hiki mai ana, a ʻo ia nō ka hana o nā kānaka he nui e kuʻupau ana a hoʻouluulu ana hoʻi no ka holu o ke aniau. Ma kēia pukana o Ka Pili Kai, e kālele ʻia ana kekahi mau laʻana, nā hana hoʻi o kekahi o nā hui e hoʻohana ana i ka ʻike a me nā ʻoihana kuʻuna o ko lākou mau kūpuna e holomua i kēia ao loli mau, a e kiaʻi a mālama hoʻi i ka ʻāina momona ʻo Waiʻanae.

Translation by
Kilika Bennett, Kupa o Waiʻanae

On the Cover

This fold-out cover captures, in an evocative collage, people and places across the Waiʻanae moku, all focused on restoring, preserving, and honoring the resilience of this amazing land of mountains, valleys, sandy beaches, and sparkling waters on the western coast of Oʻahu.

Click here to view the full issue.