PŌKA’Ī BAY

The bay is named after the Hawaiian chief Pōka’ī, who is said to have brought the first coconut palm tree to Hawaii. “Ka Uluniu o Pokai” is the famous coconut grove that once lined the backshore.  

Poka'i Bay was originally named Malaea, meaning "calm" or "serene." Malaea shelters the sandy beach of Nene'u and the site of the temple called Kū'īlioloa Heiau at Kane'ilio Point. Dedicated to a dog kupua (spirit), rites performed at the heiau protected those traveling by land and sea. At the north end of the bay is Kaupuni Stream, the spawning ground of anae (mullet) which gave Wai'anae (mullet waters) its name. The village Pōka'ī, famous for its coconut grove, once lay near the stream.

Area: The defined area includes Pōka‘ī Bay, the Pōka‘ī Boat Harbor, the Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor, and is bordered by a straight line from Kaneilio Point to Lahilahi Point. The northwest boundary extends southwest from the point just outside Wai‘anae High School.

Allowed: Fishing for legal size fish in season using one line or rod with a maximum of two hooks. Crab fishing with a maximum of 10 nets, not exceeding two feet in diameter. Shrimp may be caught for bait using a hand net not exceeding three feet in any dimension. Commercial Marine licensees with a Bait License may catch nehu, iao, and other authorized baitfish for bait purposes. Licensed pond owners or operators are allowed to catch young mullet (pua) or other small fish for stocking their fishpond.

Prohibited: Fishing or capturing aquatic life, except as permitted above. HRS188-35

The ʻuaʻu kani, wedge-tailed shearwater In Hawai‘i, diet primarily consists of larval goatfish, flyingfish, squirrelfish, and flying squid.

Adult ʻuaʻu arrive on land in early spring and nest in underground burrows, entering and leaving after dark. The female lays a single egg in May. Both parents take turns incubating for 60 days and then feed the chick until it fledges in November or early December. November, young ʻuaʻu leave their nests for the first time and fly at night to the ocean searching for food. 

A primary threat to fledglings are bright urban lights that cause them to become disoriented and fall to the ground or collide with structures. Once grounded, it is difficult for ʻuaʻu to take flight, leaving them extremely vulnerable to cats, dogs and mongooses.

In 1950, the Harbor Board recommended continuing the development of small harbors throughout the islands for pleasure and fishing craft. In 1951, the Legislature allocated funds to build small boat harbors at Poka'i Bay.

Today, Poka'i Bay is home to the e'ala, a Polynesian voyaging canoe used for cultural education.

HR 122 (2017) urges collaboration to generate water circulation in Pokai Bay on Leeward Oahu.

HR 107 (2020) calls for testing beach sand contamination levels and renovating public facilities at Poka'i Bay to mitigate environmental and health risks caused by pollution.

The word Ku'ilioloa incorporates the Hawaiian God of War "Ku" with "iIiloa", meaning "long dog". 

Ku'īlioloa Heiau is managed by the City and County of Honolulu, they do not have the agencies or agents, and programs to care for the area properly. They would have to create a agency to agency plan and implement the resolutions which we are working on.  

• it's not registered as an Historical Site
• lacks proper signage of Heiau name and story, to include wahi pana signs
• no protection of Ua'u
• the Ua'u are susceptible to mammalian predation from these feral cats that are residing in jetty wall, posing a danger to all fauna and sealife due to their waste and toxoplasma parasite.

Poka'i Bay is managed by the City and County of Honolulu, within this park an agency to agency stewardship needs to happen to get all different issues resolved such as:

• Department of Land and Natural Resources have jurisdiction over the Jetty wall and up to the high-water mark. 
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  has jurisdiction over all sealife
• Department of  Foresty and Wildlife has jurisdiction of all Fauna. 
• Department of Urban Forestry has jurisdiction of all trees in city and state parks, but not hau bushes.
• No gates to lock restrooms at night
• Drug Trafficking 
• Houselessness
• Lacks law enforcement and park closures