KIPAHULU, Hawaii — The nonprofit organization Kipahulu Ohana, in partnership with Maui County and the Hawaii Land Trust, has acquired the 9.5-acre Opelu Point coastal property in Kipahulu for conservation.

What You Need To Know

  • The acquisition, announced Thursday, will allow the parcel to be protected as conservation land in perpetuity

  • The Maui Office of Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability awarded the group a $2.5 million grant from the Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund to make the purchase

  • The property is located along the western end of Kipahulu overlooking Lelekea Bay and is considered a key location for managing the proposed Kipahulu Moku Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area

  • Opelu Point is adjacent to another 9-acre parcel managed by Kipahulu Ohana

The acquisition, announced Thursday, will allow the parcel to be protected as conservation land in perpetuity.

The Maui Office of Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability awarded the group a $2.5 million grant from the Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund to make the purchase.

“This is an ideal parcel to preserve in perpetuity because of its location overlooking the area fishery,” Mayor Mike Victorino said. “This private-public partnership will benefit the Kipahulu community for generations. Mahalo to many county departments, our nonprofit partners, the private landowner and the community for working so diligently to protect Opelu Point.”

The property is located along the western end of Kipahulu overlooking Lelekea Bay and is considered a key location for managing the proposed Kipahulu Moku Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area.

Lelekea Bay has traditionally been relied upon as a harvesting spot for akule, but has been negatively impacted by unmanaged recreational use, according to the county.

Opelu Point is adjacent to another 9-acre parcel managed by Kipahulu Ohana.

“This is a dream come true for us,” said Glenna Ann “Tweetie” Lind, the organization’s co-founder and program manager. “Opelu Point is a very special spot, and we are honored to be the stewards of this wahi pana (significant place). It will be part of our overall moku management programs, mauka to makai.

“Opelu Point provides a place to teach current and future generations about Kīpahulu’s traditional methods to manage the fishery for collective abundance,” she said. “We’re excited for the agricultural and shoreline management activities we are planning for Opelu Point.”

Opelu Point conservation is HILT’s 50th conservation easement. The trust will monitor the property in perpetuity to guarantee conservation easement restrictions are followed.  

“Opelu Point is back in the hands of those who hold lineal kuleana to care for this place,” HILT director of aina protection Shae Kamaka‘ala. “We have confidence that permanent protection of these lands will truly serve and build resilient communities for generations to come.” 

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.