Department of Land and Natural Resources

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR

RYAN KANAKAʻOLE  ACTING CHAIRPERSON

KAPĀPALA KOA CANOE LOG APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR 2026
Application Process Marks a New Era for Canoe Building

Koa trees in the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area.

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Forestry Program is now accepting applications from individuals and organizations seeking to acquire a koa canoe log for use in kālaiwaʻa – the construction of traditional Hawaiian canoes (waʻa). The logs will be harvested from the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area (KKCMA), located in the moku (district) of Kaʻū on Hawai‘i island, which was set aside by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for this purpose.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on May 30, 2026, and can be downloaded at:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/files/2026/03/KKCMA_Log_application-FINAL_2026-03.docx

Questions may be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject title: KKCMA INQUIRY.

DOFAW will assess applications based on established criteria, including the overall community and cultural impact, as well as the applicant’s demonstrated capability and readiness. Selected applicants will be notified in August.

A volunteer working group with diverse community perspectives including kūpuna, residents of Kaʻū, lineal descendants of the area, canoe clubs and associations, cultural practitioners, canoe builders, foresters and conservationists developed a protocol for distributing the logs to ensure the process has integrity and is aligned with traditional practices and cultural values.

In ancient times, waʻa were the main form of transportation across Polynesia and were utilized in many aspects of life such as voyaging, fishing, warfare, and sport.

The building of a canoe is traditionally led by the kahuna kālaiwaʻa, or master canoe carver. Koa (Acacia koa), a tree species unique to Hawaiʻi that can grow very large, has been a prized material for this process. While the tradition is still alive today, access to canoe-quality koa has been scarce, so the 1,257-acre KKCMA was set aside more than 20 years ago specifically for the cultivation and harvest of koa trees for traditional Hawaiian canoe construction.

“Decades in the making, we are honored to move this vision into action,” said DLNR Acting Chair Ryan Kanakaʻole. “This is a monumental moment because it restores the opportunity for future generations to continue the practice of kālaiwaʻa and reaffirms Kaʻū as a place where ʻike kūpuna is sustained and passed forward. The Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area reflects years of dedication by cultural practitioners, community members, and foresters working together to restore balance between forest stewardship and traditional practices.”

“Within the sacred koa trees of our Kapāpala Forest lives the breath of our kūpuna and the songs of our endemic Hawaiian birds,” said Kapāpala working group member and Kaʻū resident Nohea Kaʻawa. “When we walk the path of our ancestors with respect and proper protocol, we are not just harvesting and carving a tree, we are continuing the flow of knowledge passed down through generations. This process strengthens our community and our cultural identity. While honoring the traditions entrusted to us through navigating this path, we serve as the bridge that carries ancestral wisdom into the future for those yet to come.”

“This project includes the collaboration of the State of Hawai‘i and local cultural practitioners, canoe clubs and civic organizations to help bring back one of our most sacred traditions.” says Hovey Lambert, a traditional canoe carver and Kapāpala working group member.

“The Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area provides an opportunity to combine traditional Hawaiian practices and the best of sustainable forest management,” notes Forestry Program Manager Jennifer Grimm. “It’s a hopeful example of what may be possible for Hawaiʻi’s forest in the future.”

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Media Contact:
Andrew Laurence
Communications Director
State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
Phone: 808-587-0396
E-mail: [email protected]