Mākena, Maui, Hawaiʻi – Mākena Golf & Beach Club will host I Ola Kanaloa, a fundraising dinner event honoring local organizations Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana (PKO) and Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) for their work towards supporting Kahoʻolawe.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the honorees.  The event will be held on Saturday, December 14th, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Mākena Golf & Beach Club’s Nāulu Farm.

I Ola Kanaloa aims to encourage the health and vitality of Kanaloa spaces: the ocean, wind currents, particular marine life, underground fresh water and ancestral knowledge. The event is set to celebrate the two organizations that play critical roles in remembering, reconnecting and practicing in the spaces of Kanaloa.

The dinner will be held at Nāulu Farm overlooking the club’s organically-minded farm named for, inspired by, and designed to reflect the Nāulu wind and cloud bridge of the area. Created by Mākena Golf & Beach Club’s ‘Ōiwi Resources and Stewardship Director CJ Elizares, Nāulu Farm is part of Mākenaʻs larger effort to support the connection of the Nāulu cloud bridge from Ulupalakua to Kahoʻolawe. The soon-to-begin, low dryland reforestation effort will continue an effort to return native place-based plants to Honuaʻula, reaffirming the relationship between ʻāina and kānaka.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized and chosen to highlight the incredible work of the KIRC. This acknowledgment is a testament to the shared efforts and unwavering commitment to Kaho`olawe. Together, we strive to restore and protect Kanaloa ensuring its legacy as a symbol of resilience, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship for generations to come,” said Ashley Razo, Public Information Specialist for KIRC.

“PKO’s and KIRC’s shared mission to Kūkulu ke Ea a Kanaloa – that the life and spirit of Kanaloa build and take form – is so incredibly awe-inspiring and important to support. From across the channel, our ʻŌiwi Resources team works to echo their potent vision – to once again clothe the Honuaʻula and Kahoʻolawe slopes with native plants, to preserve healthy reef ecosystems, to recognize Kanaloa as a living spiritual entity, and to uplift Native Hawaiian lifeways and practices,” said Leahi Hall, Community Engagement Director, Makena Golf & Beach Club.

The Nāulu cloud bridge is a unique meteorological phenomenon in the Honua‘ula region of Maui. It forms when trade winds interact with warm air rising from the island causing condensation and forming a bridge-like cloud band that stretches from the top of Honua‘ula to the island of Kaho‘olawe. This cloud formation typically occurs in the afternoons and is crucial for the area’s ecosystem, contributing to the island’s rainfall and supporting its diverse flora and fauna.

"We are grateful for the support and honored by the recognition of the PKO’s unwavering commitment to Kanaloa Kaho’olawe and aloha ‘āina. In healing the island, we are reminded of the importance of working to protect the lands and waters of our own island, Maui. Mahalo for joining us in this journey,” said Lopaka Aiwohi, leader of the PKO.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person.  The event includes delicious food and drink, live entertainment by Marja Lehua Apisaloma and Gilbert Emata, and beautiful views of Puʻu Ōlaʻi and Kahoʻolawe beyond. Seating is limited and is based on a first-to-register basis.  

To buy tickets, visit:

Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana - Buy Tickets Here

Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve:  Buy Tickets Here

When purchasing tickets, please note your donations are for this fundraiser: I Ola Kanaloa

For more information regarding this event and future community events at the Mākena Golf & Beach Club, visit: https://www.makenainfo.com/iolakanaloa  

About Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana

The Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana was founded in 1976 to lead an islands’ wide grassroots aloha ʻāina movement of Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi residents with a focus on ending the U.S. Navy’s military abuse and use of Kaho’olawe and to heal the islands' natural and cultural resources.  In 1977, two ‘Ohana members, George Jarrett Helm and James Kimo Mitchell, disappeared in the ocean off Kaho‘olawe during a peaceful occupation protesting the bombing. As a result of a civil suit, Aluli vs. Brown, military exercises ended in 1990 and the island was returned to the State of Hawaiʻi in 1994. The movement that grew around the island eventually expanded across the pae ʻāina, activating Native Hawaiian communities to embrace the kuleana of a cultural stewardship of Hawaiian lands. The ‘Ohana now works with the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission through the Palapala ʻAelike Kahuʻāina (Stewardship Agreement) to access Kaho’olawe and serve as stewards of its natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.protectkahoolaweohana.org.

About Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission 

Administratively attached to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) was established by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in 1993 to manage the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve while it is held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian sovereign entity. Its mission is to implement the vision for Kaho‘olawe Island in which the kino (body) of Kaho‘olawe is restored and nā poʻe o Hawaiʻi (the people of Hawaiʻi) care for the land. The Commission has pledged to provide for the meaningful and safe use of Kaho‘olawe for the purpose of the traditional and cultural practices of the native Hawaiian people and to undertake the restoration of the island and its waters. The organization is managed by a seven-member Commission and a committed staff. For more information, call (808) 243.5020 or visit www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov. 

About Mākena Golf & Beach Club

The Mākena Golf & Beach Club (MGBC) is a private residential community developed by Discovery Land Company, whose core philosophy is to celebrate each property's natural character and develop communities focused on family and memory-making.  MGBC is committed to continuing to learn about and honor Mākena, providing a sustainability plan, growing itʻs ʻŌiwi Resources & Stewardship Department, and engaging and supporting community through Aloha Mākena – thoughtful reciprocal exchange.  For more information, visitwww.makenainfo.com.[a1] [MOU2] 

Photo Credit: Mākena Golf & Beach Club

Caption:  The design of the Nāulu Farm reflects the meteorological phenomenon that forms the Nāulu cloud bridge, making this a natural phenomenon-to-farm-to-table dining experience.

Photo Credit: Mākena Golf & Beach Club

Caption:  Mākena Golf & Beach Club’s ‘Ōiwi Resources and Stewardship Director CJ Elizares planting with the next generation of Maui stewards at Nāulu Farm.

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