Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park is located on the windward side of O'ahu, between Kane'ohe and La'ie, and 26 miles from Honolulu. Kahana is a relatively unspoiled valley, and one of only a few publicly owned ahupua'a, or ancient Hawaiian land division, in the state.

An ahupua'a includes lands from the mountains to the sea (mauka-makai), encompassing all of the resource zones needed for subsistence. The ahupua'a of Kahana encompasses almost 5,300 acres, ranging from sea level at Kahana Bay to 2,670 feet at Pu'u Pauao on the crest of the Ko'olau mountains. Kahana is one of the wettest valleys on O'ahu. Overcast skies and showers are frequent, with an average annual rainfall of 75" along the coast to 300" at the back of the valley. Temperatures can range from the mid-60s to the mid-80s.

Before Western civilization came to the islands, Kahana had a strong community. It had fresh water, abundant seafood, and a stable supply of taro, which was grown in fields with advanced irrigation systems. However, around the time of King Kamehameha's unification of Hawai'i in the 1800s, the community fell into steep decline due to foreign diseases, sugarcane cultivation and the military's use of the valley as a World War II jungle warfare training center. In the early 1900s most of the valley was owned by Mary E. Foster, and after her death the valley was given to the Bishop Estate. The state proposed a purchase of the ahupua'a, which was rejected. The Foster estate was not satisfied with the purchase plan, which was for $5,000,000 being paid 1 million per year for 5 years, as the then current legislature could not ensure future payments. The state forced the purchase through condemnation, later fulfilling their debt. The land later became a state park. Today, only 31 families live in the valley.

• Open Daily During Daylight Hours
• Beach Area: April 1 to Labor Day: 7 am to 7:45 pm
• After Labor Day to March 31: 7 am to 6:45 pm
• Coconut grove area open daily 7 am to 6:45 pm

Cache with Alha