Park Projects
Nuʻalolo Kai
Archaeological Resource Management Project
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Nā Pali Coast ʻOhana members mālama ʻāina
(care for the land and everything on her).
Photo courtesy of
www.napaliphoto.com
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This project has been the main focus of the ʻOhana'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.
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Moana Lee, a volunteer archaeologist and ʻOhana member,
helps map a newly discovered ancient site in Nʻualolo Kai.
Photo courtesy of
www.napaliphoto.com
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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 Nʻualolo Kai project received an Historic Preservation Honor Award
in 2001 from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation.
Educational Outreach
The ʻOhana speaks to the community through a variety of forums to
educate people about the plight of Nāpali's resources.
Among these programs are an effort to educate the tour guides who escort
and educate visitors to Kauaʻi.
Future goals include creation of a "Nāpali 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/Hanakāpiʻai 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.
Nuʻalolo Kai Birds and Mammals
A list of birds and mammals either observed or likely to be observed at Nuʻalolo Kai.
Birds and Mammals.
Nuʻalolo Kai Native Garden
During the work trips in the summer of 2009, an area adjacent to the
primary path in Nuʻalolo Kai was cleared, fenced to exclude goats,
and planted with native and canoe plants.
Work continued in 2010 and 2011 to remove weeds that flourished in the
absence of the goats.
This Nuʻalolo Kai Native Garden project was funded by a grant from the
Hawaii Tourism Authority.
View/Download Brochure (Part 1)
View/Download Brochure (Part 2)
View the Plants of Nuʻalolo Kai
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