Kailua Urban Design Task Force

Current Town Projects
Neighborhood Study
History

Researched the History of Kailua and Presented a Timeline of the Ahupuaa

Developed maps of Significant Historical Features in Kailua

Kailua (two seas) ahupua’a extends from the Ko’olau ridge line 15 kilometers to Kailua Bay, stretching ten Kilometers from Kapoho Point to Wailea Point. The ahupua’a is historically and culturally significant, as it was an area of high taro productivity, had large amounts of fresh spring water, and was an environment pleasant to live in. Kailua is known as a place of abundant resources where the ali’i resided.

A reason for the attractiveness of Kailua as a place of residence for an ali’i nui with his large entourage were the great natural fishponds, Ka’elepulu and Kawainui, and the complex of artificial salt-water ponds that are between Kailua and Kane’ohe in the Mokapu area: Halelou, Nu’upia, and Kaluapuhi (Kamakau, 1961:457).

Cook’s visit and subsequent influx of westerners brought numerous changes to the Hawaiian way of life, changes which intensified with the death of Kamehameha I in 1819 and the subsequent abolition of the kapu system.