History of Our Group
Our group began through the work of Uncle Bruce Keaulani and the Living Life Foundations goal to alleviate suffering. The restoration and healing of Waiakeakua Forest began in over 10 years ago when the Department of Land and Natural Resources approached Uncle Bruce and Aunty Kehau Lum to steward the land.
They began by planting Ulu (breadfruit) to provide a food source for houseless folks and grew from there from the help of friends and family. Many other food plants and medicinal species have been planted over time. The forest is covered in invasive species such as Albizia which make it a challenge to grow more species such as Koa.
Matthew Lynch the director of UH Mānoa Sustainability department, approached Uncle with an idea to remove Albizia and use the lumber of the tree for a house building project. The trees were removed at the site in 2021, allowing new sunlight and more space to grow food. Kalo was planted and Koa donated from the Koʻolau Mountain Watershed Partnership.
We hope to continue to bridge our connections between our community members and this forest. “E ola koa.” Live a long time, like a koa tree in the forest.
Uncle Bruce Keaulani
Kahu/CEO Living Life Source Foundation.
Lineal descendant of Kamehameha I.
Born & raised in Waikīkī.
Moʻolelo
Kane and Kanaloa came from the land of Kuaihelani on a pointed cloud and arrived at Hanauma, O'ahu. Kane was a kindly god, courteous ('olu'olu) in all his ways. As they traveled about the island, Kanaloa complained of hunger and, turning to his older brother, said "O Kane! We keep on going and we are dying of hunger! Let us eat."
Kane looked about and saw that there was no water for mixing their refreshment of 'awa drink . He struck the earth with his staff and water gushed forth. When the two had eaten, they started on again along the highway. They had not gone far when Kanaloa wanted to eat again. The country through which they were passing had no water. As he had done before, Kane again struck the earth with his staff and water gushed forth. Wherever they stopped to rest, Kanaloa asked for food, and many were the waterholes made by Kane between Hanauma and Laeahi.
When the two reached 'Apuakehau (where the Moana Surfrider Hotel stands), they went sea-bathing, and then lay on the beach with their backs to the sun to dry. As the sun went down, they set out again to ascend Manoa valley. Passing through Kamo'ilili (Mo'ilili), they washed off the sand from their skin in the Papa'akea stream. Sand said to have been left by these gods was for many years to be seen there, but today it is covered over.
On their way they rested on the Keapapa hill (at the place now called Punahou) and again Kanaloa teased his brother for water and challenged his ability to produce it. Kane smiled, for he could hear the noise of water within the hill, and he thrust his staff into the ground and the water gushed forth in abundance. It has been a great blessing to the natives of that region and is said to be the source of the water on the McCullly tract. This water of Kane was called "The new spring," Ka-puna-hou.
The two continued their journey up Manoa to Pu'ahu'ula . As they stood there facing the cliff, Kanaloa asked his older brother if there were kupua in that place. The two climbed a perpendicular cliff and found a pretty woman living there with her woman attendant. Kameha'ikana was the name of this kupua. Such was the nature of the two women that they could appear in the form of human beings or of stones. Both Kane and Kanaloa longed to possess this beauty of upper Mānoa. The girl herself, after staring at them, was smitten with love for the two gods. Kameha'ikana began to smile invitingly. The attendant saw that her charge did no know which one of the two gods she wanted and knew that if they both got hold of her, she would be destroyed, and she was furious. Fearing death for her beloved one, she threw herself headlong between the strangers and her charge and blocked the way. Kane leaped to catch the girl, but could not reach her. The body of Kameha'ikana's attendant stands there to this day, with the head down and the feet up. The mark of Kane's footprint remains where he trod. At the place where the gods stood, 'ohi'a 'ai (mountain apple trees) sprang up whose branches drooped over the surface of the water. The original trees are dead but their seedlings are grown and guard Waiakeakua, Water of the Gods.