About Us
The Hoakalei Cultural Foundation was established in 2006 to ensure good stewardship of the land and heritage of the ‘Ewa Plain. Its vision is to enable future generations to understand, value and respect the spirit, natural resources and heritage of the ‘Ewa Plain and most importantly, to use it to guide their lives.
The Foundation provides oversight of work to make archaeological sites within the Hoakalei Resort accessible to the community, and is actively creating partnerships with area schools and other groups to pass on knowledge from one generation to the next.
Guided by the legacy of the Foundation’s founders, Kupuna Arline Wainaha Kuuleialoha Brede Eaton and Kupuna Mary Kaipo Malama Serrao, board members, 'ohana and community members work to fulfill the Foundation’s mission.
Hoakalei is home to three preservation areas with oversight provided by the Foundation: the Kauhale, Ahu and Kuapapa Preserves. The Kauhale Preserve includes a federally protected Wetland Preservation Area, which provides vital nesting grounds for the endangered Ae‘o (Hawaiian Stilt), ‘Alae Ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian Coot) and Koloa Maoli (Hawaiian Duck). The Foundation plans to open a cultural center on the mauka end of the Kauhale Preserve where it will offer place-based educational programs to students, residents and visitors.
In mid July 2012, the board engaged Hawaiian ethnographer Kepā Maly as the executive director of the Foundation. Maly has more than 35 years of experience in research, cultural interpretation, and reporting on Hawaiian history, preservation planning and program development. He and his wife Onaona Pomroy Maly have worked to extend the Foundation’s mission and vision. In March 2013, Hawaiian cultural anthropologist Kim Kalama joined the foundation to oversee daily program activities, continue development of the heritage trail in the Kauhale Preserve, and document traditional-historic sites that fall under the care of the Foundation.
The Hoakalei Cultural Foundation welcomes community members who are interested in learning more about stewardship and cultural programs. To make arrangements for visits and program activities, please contact Kim Kalama at kalama@hoakaleifoundation.org.
E hana pono no ka ʻāina a me ka hoʻoilina o ʻEwa
To ensure good stewardship of the land and heritage of the ‘Ewa Plain
Our Story
The Hoakalei Cultural Foundation has its origins in the 1990s, when Kupuna Arline Wainaha Ku‘uleialoha Brede Eaton (who in the 1920s-1930s was raised at Keahi, Pu‘uloa), along with her elder life-long friend, Sister Thelma G. Parish (descendant of the Kimo Pelekane – Dowsett line), began working on documenting the history of Honouliuli, researching historic records, writing their own recollections, and sharing their knowledge through oral history interviews. Originally begun as a personal project, their work evolved as development proposals across the Honouliuli-Pu‘uloa lands were being formulated. These kūpuna wanted to share the rich history of the place with those who would come to call Honouliuli home, and also work towards the preservation of special cultural-historical resources of the land and sea.
It was the work of Kupuna Eaton and Sister Parish that led to the development of educational programs with students and community organizations to collect and document the heritage of their ancestral homeland. Sister Parish passed away in 2004, leaving Kupuna Eaton to carry on their vision.
In 2005, working with community members, cultural organizations, and Haseko Ewa Inc., Kupuna Eaton began paving the way for the establishment of the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation (Hoakalei CF). In 2006, the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation was granted federal non-profit status, and Kupuna Eaton, along with dedicated board members, volunteers, and resource people, worked in developing educational outreach programs and implementing site preservation plans.
Working closely with Kupuna Eaton to get the Foundation off the ground were Aunty Mary Kaipo Malama Serrao, Alicia Maluafiti, Frances Rivero, Sharene Saito Tam, Kalani Apana, Lisa Enanoria, Ku‘uwainani Eaton, Kau‘i Serrao, Wendy Ferreira, Tom Dye (T.S. Dye & Colleagues, Archaeologists), Muffet Jourdane, Kim Kalama, Planning Solutions Inc., and Kepā and Onaona Maly.
Aunty Arline Eaton
Kupuna Arline Wainaha Kuuleialoha Brede Eaton (November 11, 1927 - December 5, 2013), lovingly known as Aunty Arline, was one of only two keiki to have grown up in Pu‘uloa in an area now known as Iroquois Point, ‘Ewa Beach. Raised by her grandparents, Tutu Mama Malia andTutu Papa Kaniela Kealoha, she remembered swimming in the ponds and traversing up and down the ‘Ewa Plain during a time when the countryside was generally open and dedicated to cattle ranching, the sugar plantation and military use.
Prior to joining the state Department of Education's Kupuna Program, Aunty Arline spent 40 years working for Hawaiian Telcom and raising her family. She also worked as a Hawaiian studies teacher for Iroquois Point Elementary School. A great grandmother, she was very active in the community and was a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, the ‘Ewa-Pu‘uloa Hawaiian Civic Club, Hale Ali‘i O Hawai‘i, Ho‘omaika‘i Explorations Kamehameha Schools, Na Waiwai O Leeward, Ka Lei Pāpahi O Kakuhihewa, and the Business & Professional Womens Organization.
Aunty Arline served as President of the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation's board of directors until her passing.
Aunty Mary Serrao
The late Aunty Mary Kaipo Malama Serrao was born on the island of Kaua‘i. She and her family moved to the island of O‘ahu after World War II. As a teenager, she spent her summers working as a packer at Del Monte Pineapple Co. After graduating from McKinley High School and Cannon Business School, she began a career with the federal government, retiring in 1990.
Aunty Mary, her husband and children moved to ‘Ewa Beach in the 1950s, where she dedicated herself to working in the community. She co-founded the Pu‘uloa Outrigger Canoe Club (along with the larger state wide canoeing association) and was also a member of the ‘Ewa-Pu‘uloa Hawaiian Civic Club and the ‘Ewa Beach Community Association.
She developed a life-long friendship with Aunty Arline Wainaha Kuuleialoha Brede Eaton, which was the foundation for their work together in promoting knowledge of Honouliuli Ahupua‘a, the larger ‘Ewa District, and the cultural preservation work of the Hoakalei Foundation. From 2006 until her passing on August 14, 2013, Aunty Mary served as Vice President of the cultural foundation.
Her loss is deeply felt, but her legacy and commitment to perpetuating knowledge of place and cultural practices is carried on in the work of her children. Daughter Kau‘i Serrao and granddaughter Pualani Serrao have actively participated in implementing the mission and vision of the Pu‘uloa Outrigger Canoe Club and the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation, and carry on the work for the benefit of future generations.
Aloha ‘oe Aunty Mary, mahalo a nui no kou aloha kau palena ‘ole, a hui hou aku!