Molokai Land Trust Acquires Kahanui Wetland for Restoration

Molokai Land Trust News Release
In a significant collaboration among county, state, federal and private partners, a 45-acre wetland parcel in Kahanui on Molokai’s south shore, which includes a portion of the Punalau loko i‘a, was recently acquired by local conservation nonprofit Molokai Land Trust (MLT) for restoration and management.
The $653,850 acquisition closed April 9. Previously privately owned, this sale was possible with assistance from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), and funded by a US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant ($398,850); a County of Maui Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund ($210,000); and private contributions ($45,000).
MLT will grant a perpetual conservation easement over the property to the DLNR and the Maui County while working to develop long-term restoration and management plans.
MLT is working to implement a management plan for protecting migratory birds and endemic endangered waterbirds and enhancing their habitat, integrating compatible agricultural operations and protecting historic sites and public access. MLT will continue to collaborate with partner Molokai Wetland Partnership and the community to develop long-term restoration plans within three years of the property’s purchase.
“This area is part of an extensive Hawaiian fishpond complex that was built between 1340 AD-1450 AD,” MLT Executive Director William Haase said, giving a special thanks to Maui County Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez for spearheading the acquisition efforts, which began in 2023.
“Restoring Punalau loko i‘a is about more than reviving an ancient fishpond — it’s about healing our connection to the ‘aina, reclaiming our identity as kanaka maoli, and investing in a sustainable future where Molokai families can feed themselves through the wisdom of our kupuna,” Rawlins-Fernandez said.
Mayor Richard Bissen said the acquisition of Punalau loko i‘a represents more than land protection — it is a reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to preserving Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage, ecological health and community resilience.
MLT will be working with Molokai Wetland Partnership to create access to the site and begin threat assessment to native waterbirds as part of the long-term restoration planning process.