Kuhiawaho is an ‘ili ‘aina (land inheritance) that has been stewarded by the ‘ohana Kaʻōpua-Fitzgerald since 2010 on behalf of Kamehameha Schools. 

Through its work, the family seeks to strengthen kanaka identity through ʻāina-based stewardship and provide Kanaka ʻŌiwi leadership opportunities. Members of the ‘ohana have sought to cultivate spaces for community to care for kalo and wai, and learn about the mo’olelo that lives in this ‘āina – including ties to William Kekuana‘o‘a, John Papa ‘I‘I and Ka‘ahupahau.

“We’re going to return this place to what it used to be,” said Fitzgerald, who takes care of Kuhiawaho with Samantha Ai (KSK ’94) and their five children, including daughter La‘akea. “There are very few places where Hawaiians can go to be Hawaiian, and this is one of those places.”

Kuhiawaho is a kīpuka located on KS ‘āina near Pu‘uloa (also known as Pearl Harbor) in lower Waipahu in the Waiawa ahupua‘a in the ‘Ewa region and is fed by an underground spring. On Saturday, Dec. 9, more than 30 KS alumni, staff members, students and community volunteers took part in a Warrior Community Work Day during which participants learned about the historic site’s significance, harvested and cleaned up a section of the lo‘i and even prepared fresh pa‘i ‘ai (pounded kalo).

“We plan to coordinate similar community work days in the ‘Ewa region. This past Saturday was a great way for our ‘ohana to build connections with each other and Pauahi’s ‘aina,” said KS ‘Ewa Regional Director Nālani Blane Kealaiki.

For more information on Kuhiawaho Lo‘i, and to visit or volunteer at the site, log on to www.kuhiawaho.org.

Ron Fitzgerald demonstrates the art of making pa'i 'ai with kalo harvested from Kuhiawaho.

Kuhiawaho is a kīpuka located on KS ‘āina near Pu ‘uloa (also known as Pearl Harbor) in lower Waipahu in the Waiawa ahupua‘a in the ‘Ewa region and is fed by an underground spring.

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