Park Projects

Nualolo Kai Archaeological Resource Management Project

	Na Pali Ohana members malama aina (care for the land and everything on her). Photo courtesy of www.napaliphoto.com

This project has been the main focus of the Ohana's efforts for the past several years. In cooperation with the State Parks Archaeology Program, the group has assisted with clearing of vegetation, removal of invasive species, and archaeological research in this small but spectacular area of the coast.

Continual maintenance of the area is needed to keep the encroaching vegetation from covering fragile archaeological sites, allowing them to be viewed, and for site documentation to be conducted by archaeological staff.

Moana Lee, a volunteer archeologist and Ohana member, helps map a newly discovered ancient site in Nualolo Kai. Photo courtesy of www.napaliphoto.com

Future goals include implementing a program of test excavation with the aim of learning more about the function and age of various features, stabilization and restoration of damaged archaeological features, and re-establishment of native and polynesian introduced plants in an effort to recreate the cultural landscape which existed in prehistoric times.

The Nualolo Kai project received an Historic Preservation Honor Award in 2001 from the Historic Hawaii Foundation.

Educational Outreach

The Ohana speaks to the community through a variety of forums to educate people about the plight of Na Pali's resources. Among these programs are an effort to educate the tour guides who escort and educate visitors to Kauai.

Future goals include creation of a "Na Pali in the schools" program aimed at encouraging our youngest residents to join us in our stewardship, custom tours of the coast which convey the foundation's message, and coordination with the State parks Division to better educate day-users and campers about how they can help protect the coast.

Kalalau/Hanakapiai Beach Clean-ups

The foundation has coordinated multiple major clean-ups of beach and camping areas on the coast, where trash is continually left behind by campers and illegal squatters. These efforts require inter-agency coordination and are very costly, as they require helicopters to sling-load out the gathered rubbish.

It is hoped that with a greater emphasis on education and resource management, the need to conduct such clean-ups will decline, and the foundation can focus its efforts on research and enhancement of public areas.