Campaign for Pupukea-Paumalu
NSCLT Acts to Protect Pupukea-Paumalu
The North Shore Community Land Trust is working to protect the 1,129 acre
Pupukea Paumalu coastal bluff that overlooks the world's most famous surfing
breaks on the North Shore. Community members, multiple levels of government,
the landowner and supporters from around the world are working to conserve
Pupukea Paumalu and implement community stewardship of its unique resources.
The property drew attention 15 years ago when plans for 500 homes on the
area were announced. Fortunately, those plans were never realized.
An unprecedented coalition including the Trust for Public Land, the City
and County of Honolulu, the State of Hawai‘i, the Federal government, the US
Army Garrison Hawai‘i, local businesses, the surf industry and other private
contributors, has committed financial support making the public acquisition
and permanent protection of Pupukea Paumalu possible. Once permanently
protected, Pupukea Paumalu will be managed as a public natural area. The
property is perfect for activities such as hiking, educational programs and
nature study, biking, horseback riding and agricultural and cultural
resource restoration.
The site is located in the ahupua‘a of Pupukea and Paumalu, in the
district of Ko‘olau Loa, on the North Shore of the island of O‘ahu. The
property includes approximately 1,129 acres adjoining the Pupukea-Paumalu
State Forest Reserve, the Girl Scout Camp Paumalu, the Boy Scout Camp
Pupukea, Pupukea Highlands, Sunset Beach Elementary School, Kamehameha
Highway, and the COMSAT communications facilities. The property is located
on the 400-foot high coastal bluff mauka of Kamehameha Highway, stretches
nearly a mile along the coast, and rises to nearly 850 above sea level a
mile back from the coast. A makai section of land slopes from the coastal
bluff to the highway adjacent to Sunset Beach Elementary School.
Other features adjacent to, on, or nearby the property include: WWII
historic sites & U.S. Army Kahuku Training Area; Crown Lands; Humpback Whale
National Marine Sanctuary; Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District; Pu‘u o
Mahuka Heiau; and the Waimea Valley.
The North Shore Community Land Trust’s “Campaign for Pupukea Paumalu” was
launched in 2005 and successfully raised $1M in private contributions. These
private contributions and more than $7M in government funding are bringing
the public purchase of the1,129 acre coastal bluff within reach.
Individual donors from the North Shore community, including Jack and Kim
Johnson, were key players in helping reach the $1M community goal. Other
donors making contributions of more than $50,000 to the Campaign included
the Quiksilver Foundation, the Freeman Foundation, the GIFT Foundation of
Hawai‘i, and Sole International Corporation.
After completing the transaction
our project partner, the Trust for Public
Land, will transfer the 28 makai acres to the County (this will include a
possible partnership with Sunset Beach Elementary School and the community).
TPL will then transfer the 1,101 mauka acres to the State Parks department.
Community stakeholders are creating a community management plan (including
plans for working with Sunset Beach Elementary School, the North Shore Trail
Association, and the Scouts) and intend to share management
responsibilities for the property with government agencies. You can request
additional information by emailing
info@NorthShoreLand.org or by calling (808) 638-0338.
NSCLT is also honored that the Quiksilver Foundation recently made the
inaugural donation to the “Pupukea Paumalu Stewardship Fund.” This annual
fund will assist with the permanent protection of the property and will
support the coordination of community planning and stewardship activities so
that residents, visitors and surfers from around the world will be able to
enjoy the property in perpetuity.
NSCLT has set up a special restricted savings account for the Pupukea
Paumalu Stewardship Fund. All tax-deductible donations to this fund are
designated specifically for the acquisition and protection costs for Pupukea
Paumalu. Supporters can contact the NSCLT if they are interested in
contributing to the Pupukea Paumalu Stewardship Fund and the effort to
conserve the North Shore of O‘ahu and can send donations to NSCLT at P.O.
Box 1179, Hale‘iwa, HI 96712 or donate online by
clicking here.
