About Us
Our Story
Our mission is to protect, perpetuate, and enhance the cultural and natural landscape of the Kīholo Bay area through collaborative management and active community stewardship.
Kīholo Bay is perpetuated as a culturally and environmentally thriving part of the ahupua‘a system of Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a. Through partnerships, a commitment to the values set forth by the hui, and the creation of a cultural and wilderness park at Kīholo Bay, we will achieve proper management of the area.
CURATORSHIP
Kīholo State Park Reserve is jointly managed by the Division of State Parks and Hui Aloha Kīholo as part of a curatorship agreement. Under this agreement, Hui acts as a steward of Kīholo by partnering with stakeholders to provide on-the-ground presence, maintenance, camping facilitation, community engagement and education, as well as natural and cultural resources protection. Hui Aloha Kīholo receives no funding from the State of Hawaiʻi for services provided at Kīholo. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all of Hui Aloha Kīholo’s funding comes from private donations, fundraising activities, and grants. Please consider giving to support Kīholo.
HOA ʻĀINA TEAM
Hui Aloha Kīholo now has a physical presence on the ground, seven days a week, through our Hoa ʻĀina team. In collaboration with our partners, these Hoa ʻĀina, or “friends of the land” monitor and protect natural and cultural resources, engage with and educate visitors, maintain the reserve, and manage camping. By creating a community of stewards, with visitors, kamaʻāina (locals), partners, and advocates, Kīholo can continue to thrive culturally and environmentally. Mahalo (thank you) to the generous donors who have made the Hoa ʻAina program possible.
Kīholo is located in the “Kekaha wai ʻole o nā Kona” (Waterless Kekaha region) of North Kona, which is part of the reason why Kīholo was and is so important to the residents. Kīholo played a crucial role in connecting people and landscapes because of her abundance of water (fishponds, anchialine ponds and water systems). Situated in the North Kona region of the Island of Hawaiʻi, Kīholo Bay comprises the makai (coastal) area of the ahupua‘a (land division) of Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a.
Kīholo Bay is nested within the greater Kīholo State Park Reserve. The area contains an extensive coastal wildland environment, historic home sites, swimming areas, anchialine ponds, and historic coastal trails with associated archaeological features. These elements are noteworthy for their uniqueness, beauty, and value to both Hawaii residents and island visitors. Kīholo Bay connects ecologically, historically, and culturally to the mauka (upland) areas of Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a.
Kīholo Kupaianaha
'O Kīholo 'ʻāina aloha, lana a'e ka mana'o (o) na mea kaulana
Pa kahi, kahi hana pa'akai,
Pa lua, kahi a na lua wai kai,
Pa kolu, loko i'a Wainānali'i,
Pa ha, kahi a Luahinewai,
Wai ola o Kīholo
Kīholo kupaianaha e
He mele no Kīholo... 'ʻāina aloha
Translation:
Kīholo, beloved land, thoughts arise of famed attributes
First, it is a place of salt working
Second, it is a place of brackish water pools
Third, it is the place of the fish pond Wainanali'i
Fourth, it is the place of Luahinewai
Living waters of Kīholo
Marvelous, extravagant Kīholo
Composed by Ku'ulei Keakealani to honor the ancestral homeland of Kīholo, Pu'uwa'awa'a ahupua'a, North Kona.
Photo by Jay Bles.
Our Hui
We are people listening to place.
The Hui Aloha Kīholo Board of Directors is made up of community leaders who reflect a rich diversity of human experience at Kīholo including generational stewardship, dedicated service to the land, recreation, and sustenance.
La`i Mitchell Chong
Vice President
Director
Chauncey Kalā Asing
Vice President
Director
Adam Atwood
Treasurer
Director
Kaikea Nakachi
Secretary
Director
Wendi Pa`ahana Roehrig
Director
Darrell Ziegler
Director
Allison Rose
Director
Hui Aloha Kīholo advisors are community leaders with strong connections to Kīholo and experience that fully aligns with our mission. They contribute their many decades of direct experience as well as fresh perspectives to support the success of our Hui.
Jenny Mitchell
Advisor, Founder, President Emeritus
Leighton Hind
Advisor
Rebecca Most
Advisor
Harry McDonald
Advisor
Laʻi Bertelmann
Youth Board Advisor
Rick Gmirkin
Advisor
Christopher (Kit) John Imiloa Roehrig
Advisor
Hui Aloha Kīholo operates with a small but dedicated staff. There are many others that endlessly give their time voluntarily for the love of place. Please contact us to get involved.
Chad Wiggins
Executive Director
Ku`ulei Keakealani
Cultural Director
Monika Frazier
Fundraising and Education Specialist
Sandy Kamaka
Hoa ʻāina
Kaleo Ortiz
Hoa ʻāina
Who go above and beyond, who are always supporting Kīholo.
Nancy Erger
Puaʻala Nihau
Channalee Kamanawa
Our work is only possible with the help of partner organizations. Our vision of a thriving Kīholo requires collaborative management and active community stewardship.
