Feb. 18, 2026

Kamehameha Schools’ connection to Maunalua is reflected not only in land stewardship and planning, but also in continued support for community organizations working to care for the area’s cultural and natural resources. One example is its ongoing support of the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring Native Hawaiian fishponds, springs, and cultural sites in Maunalua Bay. 

In May 2025, Kamehameha Schools supported the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center’s Hoʻi Hou Ke Pili fundraising event, which raised funds for the much-needed repair of the hale roof at Kānewai and celebrated 18 years of community-based stewardship. The event brought together friends, ʻohana, and supporters to recognize the work that has gone into restoring and protecting sites that are critical to the health of Maunalua’s land and waters. 

That support also took the form of hands-on service. In January 2024, approximately 30 Kamehameha Schools team members, ʻohana, and friends gathered at Maunalua Heritage Fishpond to mālama ʻāina, learn about the fishpond’s history, and assist with ongoing restoration efforts.

The Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center currently stewards two key sites in Maunalua: Kānewai Spring in Kuliʻouʻou and Kalauhaʻihaʻi fishpond in Niu Valley. Kānewai Spring is one of the few remaining natural springs in Honolulu still providing fresh water to the shore, and has been restored through years of volunteer and community effort. Now permanently protected, the spring supports not only the adjacent fishpond, but also downstream ecosystems that extend to Maunalua Bay.

Kalauhaʻihaʻi fishpond is another culturally significant site, once the location of King Kamehameha and Queen Kaʻahumanu’s royal kalo patch and summer home. After years of disruption caused by damage to its water source, the fishpond is now the focus of renewed restoration efforts to reestablish freshwater flow and functionality.

Community service days, restoration projects, and fundraising efforts all play a role in supporting places like Kānewai Spring and Kalauhaʻihaʻi fishpond, where cultural practice, environmental health, and community connection come together. Through ongoing support of the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, Kamehameha Schools remains part of a broader network working to ensure these sites continue to be cared for and accessible for generations to come.