I Ola Kanaloa
A Fundraising Dinner
benefitting the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Hale Pili
I Ola Kanaloa is a special fundraising gathering dedicated to honoring the enduring legacy of Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) and the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC). This year's event emphasizes the pilina – the deep connection – across the channel, uniting communities in celebration of Kanaloa Kahoʻolawe. Not just marking the 50th anniversary of PKO's foundational efforts or the I Ola Kanaloa strategy, but weaving these elements into a collective commitment to the island's restoration and the broader lāhui (nation).
The event will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 5:00 PM at Mākena Golf & Beach Club's Hale Pili, located in Waipao, Honuaʻula. Hale Pili is a symbolic child of Namakapili on Kahoʻolawe and houses Kaʻohiki – a revered koa canoe that has safely transported participants in the kaʻapuni efforts, fostering connections through traditional voyages and cultural exchanges. Hale Pili also underscores the unifying theme: we are all one for Kahoʻolawe, celebrating together under the pilina that binds us to the land, sea, and each other.
Attendees will enjoy an evening of inspiring storytelling, live entertainment, and farm-to-table cuisine. The program will recognize the courageous individuals from the first landings on Kahoʻolawe in 1976, who sparked the movement to end military bombing and reclaim the island for cultural and environmental healing. Historical images from photographer Ian Lind, selected in collaboration with PKO and KIRC, will be featured to commemorate these pivotal moments.
All proceeds from I Ola Kanaloa will directly support PKO and KIRC's ongoing work in protecting, restoring, and revitalizing Kahoʻolawe – from erosion control and native plant propagation to cultural education and access programs. This event builds on the success of previous years, continuing to bridge communities in aloha ʻāina (love for the land).
Seating is limited and is based on a first-to-register basis.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the honorees. Click on their registration links below to reserve your spot for this special event.
$200.00 / ticket
Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana
Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) is a grassroots organization founded in 1976 dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of Kahoʻolawe, the sacred island of Kanaloa. Emerging from a movement of Hawaiian activists who protested U.S. military bombing of the island, PKO has led decades of advocacy that resulted in the end of military use and the return of Kahoʻolawe to the people of Hawaiʻi. Guided by cultural, spiritual, and environmental values, the ʻOhana continues to steward Kahoʻolawe as a puʻuhonua (refuge) and a living center for Native Hawaiian cultural practice, education, and healing.
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) was established in 1993 by the State of Hawaiʻi to manage the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve, which includes the island of Kahoʻolawe and the surrounding waters extending two miles offshore. The Commission’s mission is to restore, protect, and preserve Kahoʻolawe’s natural, cultural, and archaeological resources while facilitating safe access for cultural, spiritual, and educational purposes. Working in partnership with the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and other community organizations, KIRC oversees restoration projects, research, and stewardship efforts to ensure that Kahoʻolawe remains a living symbol of Hawaiian cultural renewal and environmental healing.
The Hale, The Hui, and The Waʻa That Gather Us
Celebrate the pilina of being one for Kahoʻolawe.
Hale Pili (right) is the “child” of Kahoʻolaweʻs hale pili, whose name is Namakapili (left). We are coming together at Hale Pili to celebrate and reaffirm our pilina, or connection as one for Kahoʻolawe.
Photo Credit: State Archives
Photo Credit: Ian Lind
Kaʻohiki (right), a koa canoe that safely transported the humans through Kanaloa in the Kaʻapuni effort. Celebrating the waʻa and moku that have safely carried us and connected us to Kahoʻolawe.
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Photo Credit: Ian Lind
Photo Credit: Ian Lind
Photo Credit: Ian Lind
We reflect upon the upcoming Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhanaʻs 50th anniversary of the first landing.